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Microsoft banned from selling Word by Texas judge, but it probably won't stick

The Microsoft Blog: http://bit.ly/18WdAM

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Computing | by Samuel Axon | Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:48PM | 0 comments

Here's today's big shocker: a Texas judge ruled that Microsoft can no longer sell one of its most important products — Word — in the United States. A Toronto-based company called i4i claims the 1998 patent to a particular way of dealing with XML files, which are critically important to Word's ability to work with many types of documents. The judge concluded that Microsoft has been infringing on that patent.

Given Microsoft's vast legal resources and the importance of Word to its business, this will probably get shot down in appeals. And even if it doesn't get shot down, Microsoft will either strike a deal with i4i or strip out some of the functionality of Word. So don't expect the famous word processor to disappear completely yet.

This story around the web:

Trusted sources:
external link Judge: Microsoft can't sell Word anymore [blog.seattlepi.com]
external link Techmeme: Judge: Microsoft can't sell Word… [techmeme.com]
external link Injunction on Microsoft Word unlikely to… [computerworld.com]
external link Killing the cash cow: Microsoft ordered to… [arstechnica.com]
external link McKool Smith :: McKool Smith: Judge Upholds… [sev.prnewswire.com]
external link Texas Judge rules Microsoft can’t… [crunchgear.com]
external link Microsoft gets a taste Texas justice: judge… [downloadsquad.com]
external link Texan judge outlaws Word • The Register [theregister.co.uk]
external link Microsoft unlikely to let Word injunction… [news.cnet.com]
external link Microsoft Word Patent Injunction Shouldn't… [Alley Insider]
external link Yes, really: Judge orders Microsoft to stop… [deals.venturebeat.com]
external link Texas judge bans Microsoft Word sales [pocket-lint.com]
external link Microsoft forbidden from selling Word, will… [engadget.com]
external link Electronista | Judge bans Microsoft Word… [electronista.com]
external link Microsoft Ordered to Stop Selling Word - word… [lifehacker.com]
external link Microsoft loses patent suit; barred from… [techvi.com]

Latest Tweets about this story:

  • suzeannasaurus - Microsoft word isn't working, it's a sign. The universe doesn't want me to work on my Texas State essays. It wants me to go to bed.

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