While Business Objects was quick to issue a statement claiming a favorable ruling, this only related to one claim of the patent suit. Three other claims were ruled in MicroStrategy’s favor.
MicroStrategy said that it had also got the proverbial OK on three patent claims that relate to Business Objects’ relational database access technology, the so-called semantic layer technology. The court found that MicroStartegy’s products use a more sophisticated approach and do not literally infringe on this semantic layer, the firm said.
It also barred Business Objects from claiming infringements on two of the three asserted claims under the so-called doctrine of equivalents – which is legalspeak for a product performing substantially the same function more or less in the same way.
However both companies will still have to go to trial this year over the one remaining claim held under the Business Objects patent. This claim is limited to the doctrine of equivalents.
Business Objects originally filed the patent suit in October 2001. In August 2003 a US lower court dismissed the claims that went to the latest appeal.
MicroStrategy also confirmed that its own patent infringement suit against Business Objects will proceed to trial in October this year in Delaware.
