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Apple settles patent suit with Burst.com

Apple is getting a license to Burst.com's portfolio of video-related technology and the end of the litigation between the two companies for $10 million.

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
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Tom Krazit

Apple has agreed to a $10 million settlement with Burst.com over patents related to delivering video over the Internet.

Burst sued Apple in April of last year claiming that the iPod, iTunes, and QuickTime products all used technology patented by Burst without a license. Burst's software enables something they call "Faster-Than-Real-Time" video, which sounds like it would be hard to watch, but it really represents the technology that allows you to download a 30-minute TV show in less than 30 minutes.

Microsoft paid Burst $60 million in 2005 for a license to the same patents. With this agreement, Apple gets a license to all of the patents in Burst's portfolio except for a DVR-related patent, as well as some DVR patents that are still in the application phase. Burst also agreed that it wouldn't sue Apple in the future for anything related to those patents.

Burst served notice that it wasn't done with litigation just yet. "Burst plans to continue identifying and evaluating companies who represent licensing opportunities and intends to diligently pursue those likely to yield suitable returns," the company said in a press release announcing the deal.