Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Microsoft, RealNetworks settle for US$761 million

A MacCentral article by Elizabeth Montalbano, via Yahoo! News, reports that:

Microsoft Corp. and RealNetworks Inc. announced Tuesday that they have settled their antitrust case and forged a partnership to promote digital music and games in three agreements worth US$761 million, the companies said.

The settlement marks the resolution of the last major private antitrust case against Microsoft in the U.S., and RealNetworks’ withdrawal of an antitrust case against the software vendor still pending in the European Union.

Microsoft will pay Real Networks $460 million up front to resolve all damages and claims in the suit, and the companies are agreeing to a series of technology licenses and commitments that will give RealNetworks long-term access to Windows Media technologies to enhance its own media software, according to the companies.

Under the terms of the deals, the companies have resolved their antitrust suit worldwide and will jointly promote and market RealNetworks’ music subscription service, Rhapsody, on Microsoft MSN. In addition, Microsoft will offer RealNetworks’ digital games through MSN Games and Xbox Live Arcade for XBox 360.

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