Microsoft has been accused of infringing on patent dealing with the XML programming. This programming language allows the user to format text and to be use the file created on other programs typically in the form of a .docx, .xml, or .docm.
Anyways, Microsoft is said to have to play $290m to a Canadian firm i4i whom which had supposedly had the patent in 1998. Microsoft has 60 days to act and a spokesperson for Microsoft had said that they are disappointed with the judges ruling and they are going to appeal. Not only that but also said by this spokesperson, Kevin Kuts was, "We believe the evidence clearly demonstrated that we do not infringe and that the i4i patent is invalid. We will appeal the verdict."
I find this quite interesting that this is just now coming out seeing that Word has been in business for multiple years and even the newest version of office for a couple. I would expect that this would be taken to court years prior but I do have a theory or two.
Maybe the 'actual' patent owner i4i did have the patent and that they were waiting it out to see Microsoft get big and for Word to be popular so that they could get more and more money from the lawsuit. Hmm. Or, they managed to get a hold of people in special places and somehow turn the evidence around to create a faulty patent which would prove the spokesperson statement that the patent i4i has on the programming is invalid.
No matter what happens I'm sure there are plenty of geeky programmers at Microsoft already coming up with another way to write the programming to get more bang out their buck for the functions Word has. I for one will still use the program for every need I could have from it and I do not feel like this firm should have any claim over it as having waited this long to do so.
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