Israeli technology group Emblaze accused Microsoft of infringing its US patent for media streaming technology, having also accused Apple, and offered to license the technology to both.
Emblaze, whose companies include Magic Software and Matrix IT, said today Microsoft's IIS Smooth Streaming system and Apple's HTTP Live Streaming application used its technology.
It said it had notified Microsoft, which had until March 15th to reply, and had previously served a similar notice to Apple.
"While we are happy to license our technology to third parties, we will vigorously defend our rights and our competitive position," Emblaze chairman Naftali Shani said.
Microsoft uses Smooth Streaming to deliver multimedia, graphics and animation, including high-definition video via its Silverlight software.
Microsoft declined to comment on the matter, while Apple had no immediate comment.
Apple uses HTTP Live Streaming in its iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, as well as its OS X Snow Leopard operating system, Emblaze said in a statement.
Shares in Emblaze closed up 13.5 per cent at 46.25 pence in London.
The company was founded in 1994 as GEO International Computer Based Training in 1996 and developed a technology for the delivery of multimedia over Internet protocol networks. A few years later, it developed technology for delivery of video to mobile phones.
It was hit hard by the downturn last decade and began to re-organise. Emblaze has since become a technology holding company.
It owns Magic, Matrix and Sapiens through Formula Systems. Elblaze also owns IP company Zone IP, Emoze -- which delivers push e-mail services over wireless networks -- and mobile technology company Else.
Reuters