Microsoft asks court to hold off on Word ban

August 19, 2009

(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to allow it to keep selling Word software as it fights an unfavorable patent ruling.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas found Microsoft infringed on a patent held by a Canadian company, i4i LLP. Last week, the judge ordered Microsoft to pay $290 million and to stop selling copies of its word processing program that use the patented technology within 60 days.

The patent relates to the way Word 2003 and 2007 let users customize document encoding.

Microsoft says it and the public will both suffer if Word goes off the market while the company devises a workaround.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

• LeeZe - Aug 20, 2009
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  I would think that in the appeal, Microsoft would state where there was an error in the trial. But no, they say that they need the stay lifted because they will be losing money... Had they NOT violated the patent, they would not be in the position they are in today. Or, am I missing something?
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