Microsoft Claims Patent Holder Got A Job At Microsoft To Get Info Used In Patent Lawsuits

from the patent-espionage dept

Mon, Feb 2nd 2009 3:23am — Mike Masnick

We see all sorts of strange patent-related lawsuits around here, but this one probably qualifies for the most extreme attempt by a patent holder to come up with info for the sake of a patent lawsuit. Apparently (and this is according to Microsoft), Miki Mullor, CEO of a company called Ancora Technologies, applied for a job at Microsoft while still working for Ancora. He got the job, and then used the job to download all sorts of info unrelated to his job -- but which was helpful in allowing Ancora to sue a bunch of companies, including Dell, HP and Toshiba claiming that their use of Microsoft anti-piracy technology violated Ancora's patents on anti-piracy technology. We've seen plenty of questionable patent lawsuits... and lots of stories about corporate espionage, but not many that combined both topics. Update on 11/17/2009: The company informs us that the companies have settled.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: anti-piracy, corporate espionage, miki mullor, patents
Companies: ancora, microsoft

11 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Norm, 2 Feb 2009 @ 5:40am

Why don't they get with the times?
You would think Ancora would embrace the free exposure they get from the distribution of their software/technology.

Geez some folks still can't get past that old business model.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
elduderino, 2 Feb 2009 @ 6:13am

illegal?
corporate espionage? is this somehow illegal?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Feb 2009 @ 7:55am

Sounds like...
they need to prune their HR department!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
d0n0vAn, 2 Feb 2009 @ 8:20am

Ancora Technologies
Well, I found Ancora Tech's website and I read his statement regarding the case. It appears that he holds a patent, but never actually did anything with said patent. According to the website there are two employees working at Ancora Tech: the founder and a president. Also from the website, Miki Mullor, founder and CEO holds an LL.B degree from a private university and is former Israeli Military Intelligence.

So, I see two guys. One is a would-be lawyer and a spy. THAT guy invents something he can't sell, then when he is broke and needs to support his family, then THAT guy gets hired by the largest software manufacturer in the world and spied on that corporation, stole documents unrelated to his job before filing his own patent lawsuit.

Sounds fishy to me. I predict he wins.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Norm, 2 Feb 2009 @ 8:28am

::Sounds fishy to me. I predict he wins.::

LOL LOL LOL LOL
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Neo, 2 Feb 2009 @ 8:39am

A new form of pre-trial "discovery"

Some small companies believe that it is better to keep lots of secrets rather than pay lawyers to protect patents. This solves the problem on the other end of things .. who is hiding that fact that they are violating your patents.

I have to ask .. did Microsoft fire him ?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mr. Smith, 2 Feb 2009 @ 8:57am

> I have to ask ... did Microsoft fire him ?

No he's been transferred to their legal department.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lucretious, 2 Feb 2009 @ 9:54am

Re: Ancora Technologies
Miki Mullor, founder and CEO holds an LL.B degree from a private university and is former Israeli Military Intelligence.

so, he's attempting to make cash without any regard to the ethical ramifications.

way to play down those Jewish stereotypes Mr. Mullor.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Feb 2009 @ 10:09am

Re: Re: Ancora Technologies
way to play down those Jewish stereotypes Mr. Mullor.

You're the first one to say anything about "Jews", troll.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mazhar, 2 Feb 2009 @ 10:59am

interesting
it seems interesting about information access in microsoft, if information didnot relate his job how he manage to download. microsoft need to check access polices in its network
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Feb 2009 @ 6:07pm

Wow
Wow, and he thinks it is ok, or that no one would catch on ...
[ link to this | view in thread ]