David Ansermot Web Developer / TYPO3 Integrator

Microsoft Word legal : Patent infringement

Microsoft has asked the Federal Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision. It did not.

In his trial, which opposes the company i4i, so Microsoft has to lose another round. Justice considers that Word, word processing of Redmond, has indeed infringed patents belonging to the "small" company.

The decision of a judge said even the "voluntariness" of patent infringement because the evidence provided by i4i showed clearly that Microsoft employees had attended the presentation of the technologies of their competitors.

The appeal was filed that Redmond was to hear again all the players file: the complainant i4i - of course - but also all the judges who ruled in that case (which, for the record, 3 of which had first call confirmed the ban on sale December 22 last).

This procedure is called "en banc". An expression of American law very appropriate that the judges can imagine sitting next to each other to call college.

The chances that such hearings "en banc" occurring today are virtually zero unless dramatic turn of events. Microsoft, however, can still bring the case before the Supreme Court.

For the CEO i4i, this is a "decision even more detailed and reasoned that goes in our direction."Microsoft has not yet reacted. The company may still further be ordered to pay 240 million dollars in damages to his adversary.