PARIS, Aug 8, 2007 (AFP) - Alcatel-Lucent said Wednesday it would appeal a US court decision overturning a verdict ordering Microsoft to pay the French-US Telecommunication equipment maker 1.5 billion dollars (1.08 billion euros) for infringing its patents.

'We are going to appeal this surprising decision,' a spokesman said, noting that a US jury had in February unanimously found Miscrsoft, the world's biggest software company, to be in breach of Alcatel's patents and had as a result imposed the record fine.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 6, 2007 (AFP) - A US judge Monday overturned a jury verdict ordering Microsoft to pay Alcatel-Lucent 1.5 billion dollars for infringing on the French firm's patents.

US Senior District Court Judge Rudi Brewster, who is handling a legal appeal of the jury trial's outcome, issued a written ruling 'in favor of Microsoft and against Lucent ... terminating the case,' according to court documents.