Rudi M. Brewster
Encyclopedia
Rudi M. Brewster is a United States
Federal Judge
, best known for 2006 ruling in a patent infringements suit against Microsoft
tied to the licensing of the MP3
format.
Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
, Brewster received a B.A.
from Princeton University
in 1954 and was in Navy ROTC there. He was in the United States Navy
as an aviator from 1954 to 1957, and thereafter attended Stanford Law School
while in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He earned a J.D.
from Stanford in 1960, and went into private practice in San Diego, California
, at the law firm of Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye. He left the Naval Reserve in 1981.
On May 24, 1984, President Ronald Reagan
nominated Brewster to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
, to a seat vacated by Howard B. Turrentine. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 15 and received commission the same day. While on that court he tossed out February, 2006 ruling against Microsoft for patent infringements tied to the licensing of the MP3 format, worth $1.5 billion. He also ruled in United States v. Bauer. He assumed senior status
on July 1, 1998.
Brewster holds a fellowship with the American College of Trial Lawyers
, is an associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates and serves as President and chancellor: Louis M. Welsh Inn of Court. He is also a member of the J. Clifford Wallace Inn of Court.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Federal Judge
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
, best known for 2006 ruling in a patent infringements suit against Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
tied to the licensing of the MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
format.
Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
, Brewster received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1954 and was in Navy ROTC there. He was in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an aviator from 1954 to 1957, and thereafter attended Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
while in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Stanford in 1960, and went into private practice in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, at the law firm of Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye. He left the Naval Reserve in 1981.
On May 24, 1984, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Brewster to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
United States District Court for the Southern District of California
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties in California: Imperial and San Diego. In terms of filed indictments, it is one of the busiest criminal districts in the United States...
, to a seat vacated by Howard B. Turrentine. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 15 and received commission the same day. While on that court he tossed out February, 2006 ruling against Microsoft for patent infringements tied to the licensing of the MP3 format, worth $1.5 billion. He also ruled in United States v. Bauer. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on July 1, 1998.
Brewster holds a fellowship with the American College of Trial Lawyers
American College of Trial Lawyers
The American College of Trial Lawyers is a professional association of trial lawyers from the United States and Canada. Founded in 1950, the College is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession...
, is an associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates and serves as President and chancellor: Louis M. Welsh Inn of Court. He is also a member of the J. Clifford Wallace Inn of Court.