Microsoft asks Eolas exports rehearing

Microsoft called itself the winner earlier this month when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit sent the University of California's "Eolas" patent infringement case back to the district court, registering substantial complaints about the $565 million judgment against the software giant. But a declaration of victory hasn't kept Microsoft from requesting a rehearing of part of that decision it didn't like.

In a court filing dated March 16, Microsoft asked for an "en banc" rehearing--or a hearing by a larger panel of judges--on the so-called Golden Master section of the ruling. In that section, the court ruled that Microsoft, should UC's case hold up otherwise, would be liable for damages on software that was copied overseas from Golden Masters. The case could set an important precedent for software exporters.