11-14) 18:53 PST CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) --

A federal jury on Friday ordered Microsoft Corp. to pay $62.3 million in damages to a subsidiary of Charlotte-based SPX Corp. in a patent infringement lawsuit over conferencing technology.

The subsidiary, Imagexpo, sued Microsoft in October 2002, alleging the software giant infringed on an Imagexpo patent through its NetMeeting Whiteboard feature.

The feature, which is on several Microsoft products, allows multiple users in separate locations to view and make notes on a common screen.

The Richmond, Va., jury determined Microsoft infringed on the Imagexpo patent and set the $62.3 million award, SPX said.

Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said her company contends the Whiteboard feature was developed independently of Imagexpo. Microsoft has not decided whether to appeal, she said.

NetMeeting is being phased out as Microsoft focuses on its new Live Meeting Web conferencing service, according to Drake.

SPX Corp. makes industrial products, auto parts, and data-networking and fire-detection systems.

The announcement came after the close of regular trading on the NASDAQ stock market, where Microsoft shares fell 19 cents Friday to close at $25.50. They fell another 3 cents in after-hours trading.

SPX shares fell 47 cents Friday by the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange and rose 1 cent during extended training.


Source : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...153EST0410.DTL