Networking and Communication company Alcatel has filed two lawsuits claiming that Microsoft has violated 7 patents held by Alcatel. Specifically the patents address various aspects of online video. For example, one patent addresses fast-forwarding and rewinding digital video streams. Others deal with peer-to-peer communication, and tagging digital information for "non-sequential playback."I'm guessing Microsoft will find a way to settle these suits. Alcatel worked with Microsoft to develop an IPTV platform with digital recorder features. Given their partnership, I'm not sure how the bad blood developed between the two companies. But I'm fairly certain Microsoft won't be getting out of the IPTV market anytime soon.
