WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Supreme Court justices debated definitions of computer code, software and component in a Microsoft Corp. vs. AT&T Inc. patent case.
At issue is whether Microsoft can be held liable for violating an AT&T patent on technology that condenses speech into computer code, similar to that found on Microsoft's Windows program, The Washington Post reports.
Microsoft ships code overseas in master disks that get copied before being installed in a manner the justices agreed would be infringing if it had taken place on U.S. soil.
A question they asked is whether software code is a component that can be patented.
Justice Anthony Kennedy called it "odd" Microsoft would contend a computer disk, rather than software, is product.
"I mean, Microsoft doesn't say please buy our disk because it's the prettiest disk in the business," he said. "It says buy our program because the program means something."
On the flipside, justices worried a decision in favor or AT&T could be overbroad, turning any transmission of information about a patented process into a potential patent infringement, InformationWeek reported.
