Microsoft Word XML patent case to be heard by Supreme Court

Microsoft struck out on two previous attempts in court, but it's not prepared to give up on Word just yet. Today, the Redmond company received a bit of welcome news: the Supreme Court has agreed to hear Microsoft's appeal in the case to decide who owns the patent for XML, the markup language that powers Word. That takes Microsoft off the hook for the $290 million in damages previously awarded to plaintiff i4i, and allows it to keep selling Word for now.

For the time being, then, it's business as usual for Microsoft. That's good news for all of us -- considering the Office Armageddon they warned us about back in 2009 when things were just getting started. As the Register points out, the tech world will be waiting with bated breath to hear the Court's decision -- if i4i's patent on XML is upheld, it could have major implications for future patent-related trials.

Microsoft Word XML patent case to be heard by Supreme Court originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/29/microsoft-xml-patent-case-to-be-heard-by-supreme-court/

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