A Texas judge ruled Tuesday that Microsoft cannot sell Word. Yes Word. Microsoft Office's Word.

i4i Inc, a Toronto-based company, won an injunction against Microsoft regarding the company's XML patents. The injunction “prohibits Microsoft from selling or importing to the United States any Microsoft Word products that have the capability of opening .XML, .DOCX or DOCM files (XML files) containing custom XML," and Microsoft has 60 days to comply.

The full injunction is below:

Microsoft Corporation is hereby permanently enjoined from performing the following actions with Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007, and Microsoft Word products not more than colorably different from Microsoft Word 2003 or Microsoft Word 2007 (collectively “Infringing and Future Word Products”) during the term of U.S. Patent No. 5,787,449:

.DOCX, or .DOCM file (“an XML file”) containing custom XML;

2. using any Infringing and Future Word Products to open an XML file
containing custom XML;

Infringing and Future Word Products that have the capability of opening a .XML,

3. instructing or encouraging anyone to use any Infringing and Future Word
Products to open an XML file containing custom XML;

1. selling, offering to sell, and/or importing in or into the United States any

4. providing support or assistance to anyone that describes how to use any infringing and Future Word Products to open an XML file containing custom XML;

and

Word Products to open an XML file containing custom XML.

This injunction does not apply to any of the above actions wherein the Infringing and Future Word Products open an XML file as plain text.

5. testing, demonstrating, or marketing the ability of the Infringing and Future

Don't expect Microsoft to just stop selling Word. They will probably reach an agreement of some sort. But this is insane none the less.

[Via Seattle PI]

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Frederik Van Lierde  - Insane   |2009-08-12 02:31:30 I thought XMl was a standard, many companies are using XML, how can you build something with text (XML) and patent it. So when I use Custom XML in my projects, this means I can't sell it. Or is this company just yants many, and they will mnot attack the smaller companies ? Anyway, it will open the discussion about patents Reply | Quote yourmom  - STUPID   |2009-08-12 03:17:07 AMERICA SHOULD BE ASHAMED! Reply | Quote Jlynn  - Dang   |2009-08-12 19:24:42 Geesh. What's next? Stopping the American Flag from being sold in the U.S.? Microsoft Word is very important and one of the top software programs for many businesses, schools & homes. I don't get it. Of course, I am one of those computer-illiterate people who probably don't get the whole story. Still. Microsoft Word?? Really? Reply | Quote rsmith  - Software patents are stupid   |2009-08-12 22:26:11 This just goes to show how stupid software patents are. period. Reply | Quote Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26

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