Nice find. \

And as for this question the article poses, here is the answer in today's news....

"With respect to ever increasing patent damages, the report points to the $1.5 billion damages award in Microsoft v. Alcatel-Lucent, which if it stands, would constitute the largest damages award in U.S. patent litigation history."

Judge Orders Microsoft To Pay $511.6M In Alcatel Suit

Portfolio Media, New York (June 23, 2008)--In a setback for Microsoft Corp. in its long-running dispute with Alcatel-Lucent, a federal judge has upheld a jury’s finding that the software giant infringed two of Alcatel’s patents and ordered it to pay $511.6 million in damages and interest.

On Thursday, Judge Marilyn L. Huff of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California refused to reconsider the jury’s April award of $368 million. Microsoft said it planned to appeal the...

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