Alacritech, The Register reports, has obtained preliminary injunctive relief to stop Microsoft developing or making the advanced network technologies that are planned as part of its Longhorn (son of Windows) product. The technologies are protected under its patents for "Protocol Processing Stacks for use with Intelligent Network Interface Device".
The IPKat thinks the longhorn has a very intelligent face, but he's not so sure about its intelligent interface ...
Full text of judgment here
Patents here and here