This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/technology/8197990.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Judge bans Microsoft Word sales | Judge bans Microsoft Word sales |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A US federal court has ordered Microsoft to pay over $290m (£175m) for wilfully infringing on a patent by Canadian firm i4i. | A US federal court has ordered Microsoft to pay over $290m (£175m) for wilfully infringing on a patent by Canadian firm i4i. |
| The patent relates to the use of XML, a mark-up language that allows formatting of text and makes files readable across different programs. | The patent relates to the use of XML, a mark-up language that allows formatting of text and makes files readable across different programs. |
| XML is used in recent versions of Microsoft's word-processor Word. | |
| Texas district court judge Leonard Davis also filed an injunction preventing Microsoft from selling Word. | Texas district court judge Leonard Davis also filed an injunction preventing Microsoft from selling Word. |
| The row specifically relates to the use of Extensible Mark-up Language, or XML, documents. | The row specifically relates to the use of Extensible Mark-up Language, or XML, documents. |
| I4i filed a patent in 1998 that outlined a means for "manipulating the architecture and the content of a document separately from each other" invoking XML as a means allowing users to format text documents. | I4i filed a patent in 1998 that outlined a means for "manipulating the architecture and the content of a document separately from each other" invoking XML as a means allowing users to format text documents. |
| XML is also used extensively among other word-processing programs such as OpenOffice. | XML is also used extensively among other word-processing programs such as OpenOffice. |
| Wilful | Wilful |
| Earlier this year, the court found in a jury trial that Microsoft had infringed the patent and awarded i4i $200m (£120m). | Earlier this year, the court found in a jury trial that Microsoft had infringed the patent and awarded i4i $200m (£120m). |
| In the latest ruling, the court ordered Microsoft to pay $40m (£24m) for the wilful nature of the infringement and interest on the amounts totalling more than $40m. | In the latest ruling, the court ordered Microsoft to pay $40m (£24m) for the wilful nature of the infringement and interest on the amounts totalling more than $40m. |
| In a separate injunction, the court prohibited Microsoft from "selling, offering to sell, and/or importing in or into the United States" any version of the software that can open custom XML files (with file extensions .xml, .docx, or .docm). | In a separate injunction, the court prohibited Microsoft from "selling, offering to sell, and/or importing in or into the United States" any version of the software that can open custom XML files (with file extensions .xml, .docx, or .docm). |
| XML is integral to some of the company's programs, such as Word 2007. | XML is integral to some of the company's programs, such as Word 2007. |
| Microsoft has 60 days to comply with the injunction but said in a statement that it will appeal the ruling. | Microsoft has 60 days to comply with the injunction but said in a statement that it will appeal the ruling. |
| "We are disappointed by the court's ruling," said Microsoft spokesperson Kevin Kutz. | "We are disappointed by the court's ruling," said Microsoft spokesperson Kevin Kutz. |
| "We believe the evidence clearly demonstrated that we do not infringe and that the i4i patent is invalid. We will appeal the verdict." | "We believe the evidence clearly demonstrated that we do not infringe and that the i4i patent is invalid. We will appeal the verdict." |