Dell, HP back Microsoft in Word legal battle

Computerworld - Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's two largest computer makers, have sided with Microsoft in its appeal of a ban that would block Word sales in the U.S.

The two companies warned that the injunction would ripple through the PC ecosystem, and they said that without more time to test any Microsoft tweaks, users might lose data.

Dell and HP filed nearly identical amicus curiae, or "friend of the court," briefs earlier this week with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which is considering Microsoft's request to overturn a Texas court's verdict and quash the injunction that prohibits Microsoft from selling current versions of Word 2003 and Word 2007 after Oct. 10.

Both companies asked the three-judge panel to block the injunction or, failing that, to extend the deadline by four months. "At a minimum, should the injunction be affirmed following the Court's scheduled hearing on Sept. 23, 2009, Hewlett-Packard respectfully requests that the injunction not take effect until 120 days after this Court's decision," HP's brief read.

The computer manufacturers said that if Microsoft were forced to modify Word 2003 and Word 2007 to comply with the injunction, they would likewise be required to change the software they factory-install on their new PCs. Many new computers, for example, come with Microsoft's Office or a trial version of the productivity suite.

"If Microsoft is required to ship a revised version of Word in Dell's computers, the change would need to be made to Dell's [disk] images," the Round Rock, Texas-based PC vendor's lawyers said, referring to the disk images used by computer makers to prep new PCs' hard drives. "Making such a change would require extensive time- and resource-consuming retesting."

Dell and HP have waded into a case that's more than two years old. In 2007, Toronto, Ontario-based software developer i4i Inc. charged Microsoft with infringing on its patent for creating custom XML documents. Last May, a federal jury in Texas found Microsoft guilty and awarded it $200 million in damages. Two weeks ago, U.S. District Court Judge Leonard Davis, who oversaw the case, tacked on another $90 million in damages and interest and blocked Microsoft from selling Word in its current form.

The salient point for Dell and HP is the injunction Davis slapped on Microsoft.

The two companies told the judges that because the ban would not only harm their sales, but also affect the public, the injunction should be set aside. "The District Court's injunction thus will impose heavy burdens on Dell, and will also adversely impact the public interest," said Dell's brief. "The court should consider these factors in weighing the equities relevant to Microsoft's motion to stay the injunction."