Alcatel Sues Microsoft Over Patents

Alcatel, the French manufacturer of telecommunications gear, has filed two separate complaints against Microsoft in a Texas court, claiming that Microsoft has infringed on seven Alcatel patents.

The court documents do not give examples of Microsoft's alleged bad behavior, but we think that it relates to digital video and network communication.

It said the action, lodged in the US District Court for Eastern Texas was to protect its intellectual property.

The French firm added it hoped to resolve issues "through discussions rather than the courts".

Microsoft said that the suits appeared to relate to a long-running dispute between it and US-based Lucent Technologies which Alcatel is set to take over.