Adobe wins patent infringement suit against Macromedia
The web design software market suffered a change in the balance of power, probably temporary, yesterday, after a jury found Macromedia Inc software infringes upon a US patent held by rival Adobe Inc. Adobe was awarded damages of about $2.8m, and said it expects to be awarded an injunction against further infringement.
Macromedia's CEO Rob Burgess said: "It is unfortunate, and we believe wrong, that Adobe has chosen this field to compete. Unfortunately, it is our customers, and particularly our mutual customers, that will be harmed." The company said the judgment will not materially affect its financial condition.
Bryan Lamkin, senior VP of Adobe's graphics business, said: "We've maintained all along that Macromedia infringes this patent. While we would have preferred to settle this issue out of court, we are satisfied that the validity of this key innovation has been upheld."
