Australian Story: Aug 24

On Monday night ABC tells of a David and Goliath battle between an Aussie inventor and Microsoft.

After fighting the US giant over a patent, Sydney‐born Ric Richardson has emerged the victor, being awarded half a billion Australian dollars. These days, he lives in Byron Bay, working from a van that allows him mobile views of the ocean.

In 1992, Richardson created and patented a product that enabled computer software companies to prevent pirating of their programs.

IBM invested in his newly‐formed company, Uniloc, but he refused to sign a Microsoft contract despite the lure of reaching millions of consumers.

Years later he discovered that Microsoft was using his invention without his permission.

In 2003, Uniloc filed a claim that was initially thrown out of court.

After losing the case Microsoft is considering their options.

‘The major findings of the jury are that the patent was valid, that it was infringed by Microsoft and they’ve also found that Microsoft’s breach of that patent was wilful, but they’ve not awarded any damages in respect of that wilfulness. That’s up to the judge to determine,’ says Jim FitzSimons, IT and telecommunications lawyer on Australian Story.

It airs 8pm Monday on ABC1.