Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest technology news and information.

Microsoft appeals Word ruling, asks for stay

By Nancy Gohring

August 18, 2009 06:59 PM ET

Top Stories

IDG News Service - Microsoft on Tuesday asked a court to stay an injunction that could put a stop to sales of Microsoft Word.

In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Microsoft also asked for an expedited review of its appeal.

The moves follow an injunction issued by the court last week that said Microsoft had 60 days to stop selling Word products that let users create custom XML documents. The ruling, which also includes additional damages Microsoft must pay, was related to a patent infringement suit filed by i4i in 2007. The court has issued total damages against Microsoft of more than US$290 million.

The most common versions of Word on the market now, Word 2003 and Word 2007, both allow users to create custom XML documents.

If Microsoft doesn't win a stay, it may be able to develop a workaround that avoids using the technology in question or possibly strip the capability from the products.

I4i expected the appeal but will continue to enforce its patent, said Loudon Owen, chairman of i4i.

Microsoft said it believes it hasn't infringed the patent, which it argues is also invalid.

Custom XML allows people to create forms or templates such that words in certain fields are tagged and then can be managed in a database, Owen said. Large companies and government agencies, for example, might create such templates.

I4i's patent covers technology that lets end-users manipulate document architecture and content.

Comment Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Reprinted with permission from

IDG.net
Story copyright 2009 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

Jump to comments

Microsoft

Additional Resources

WHITE PAPER

EFD vs. HDD - What You Need to Know

Enterprise flash drives provide a new Tier 0 storage layer capable of delivering high I/O performance at a very low latency. Proper use of EFDs in an Oracle environment can deliver increased performance compared to fibre channel drives. Read the recommendations for identification of the best DB components for EFDs.

WHITE PAPER

Gartner Research Report: Magic Quadrant for Application Delivery Controllers, 2009

The market for products to improve the delivery of application software over networks remains dynamic and innovative. Vendors focused on solving enterprises' most-pressing application problems have become the top players.

WHITE PAPER

Eight Criteria for Server Load Balancing

Server load balancers are a simple yet highly effective means to scale an application environment while ensuring its availability. Today's solutions should also address application performance and security. Read about the top eight criteria you should consider when choosing a server load balancer and how Citrix NetScaler meets those requirements.

What People Are Saying

0 comments | Add new

See all comments (0) | Add new

White Papers & Webcasts

Death to PST Files
Download Now

Four Ways to Improve Your TSM Environment with a SEPATON VTL
Watch Now

The Tangled Web: Silent Threats & Invisible Enemies
Download Now

Tape Killed the IT Guy
Watch Now

Forrester Consulting Mobility Study: Taking Control of Enterprise Mobile Device Diversity
Download Now

BRM: What You Can Do To Reduce Risk In Challenging Times
Watch this webcast now!

What IT Must Do to Support Employee-Owned BlackBerry, iPhone and Android Mobile Devices
Download Now

Web 2.0, Social Media and the Dark Web - A Web Criminals Paradise?
In this discussion, learn about the challenges of protecting your users from the potentially unsafe content hidden in the "Dark Web".

eGuide: Enterprise Security
Smart Security Strategies for 2010. Read now!

Disaster Recovery 2008: Reduced Costs and Improved Performance
How long can your Enterprise afford to be without your data? With an accelerated disaster recovery program, you never have to answer this...

All White Papers | All Webcasts