                  Microsoft vs. Stac Electronics
                  -------------------------------

                    By Brian Kellison - Air Time BBS


     Microsoft was told to pay Stac Electronics $122 million on an 
     issue that Microsoft is using patented Stac technology as the
     data compression tool in MS-Dos 6.0.

     A panel of jurors figured the damage at $5.25 per MS-DOS unit 
     sold.  This means that 22 million units would have been sold
     and this was thought to be high.

     The jury also awarded Microsoft $13.7 Million in compensatory
     and punitive damages on it's counter claim that Stac
     Electronics used the pre-loading software feature that
     Microsoft is known for.

     Microsoft will also try to stop Stac from distributing any of
     Stac's products that contain this feature.  Microsoft will
     also try to overturn the patent infringement portion of the
     verdict which means this could go on for months.

    Microsoft did try to get Stac's permission to use the Stacker 
    code but Stac refused.   Microsoft then made every effort
    possible to avoid the patent infringements.  The jury agreed
    that Microsoft did just that.
     
    Microsoft has said that DOS 6 users may continue to use DOS 6.

    Microsoft was also asked if the price of DOS 6 would drop if 
    Microsoft distributed it without data compression.  Of course,
    Microsoft sayed NO; "MS-DOS contains many advanced features"
    is what they had to say.

   MS-DOS 6.21 will be released by the end of the week.  Remember 
   that this is actually Dos 6.0 without data compression.
