Microsoft Cannot Sell Word Anymore and Owes $290 in Compensation to i4i

Must say, it has been a day for some strange kind of legal ‘injunctions’ with RealDVD being held first with a preliminary injunction and now Microsoft being held from selling its very own Word with a permanent injunction. The decision passed by Judge Leonard Davis, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas prohibits Microsoft from selling or importing any Microsoft Product to the United Sates.

The legal duel which has been on between Microsoft and i4i since the latter filed the lawsuit in March 2007 (for injunction and damages) couldn’t have found a better location than the Eastern District of Texas-a famous shelter for patent litigation.

The case was ruled in favor of i4i stating charges that Microsoft has violated its 1998 patent (No. 5,787,449) related to a method for reading XML.

The injunction becomes effective in 60 days and it also enjoins Microsoft from testing, demonstrating, marketing or offering support for future Word products. The Judge has also ordered Microsoft to compensate i4i with $290 million in damages.

Microsoft is ostensibly disappointed with this decision and it claims that it will go in further appeal against the decision. Here’s hoping that the decision is reversed by a higher court! [via:Seattlepi]

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