CAFC Grants Microsoft Expedited Patent Appeal in Word Case
4 comments | Page viewed 4,434 times | Written by Gene QuinnPosted: Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 9:06 pm
Posted in: Federal Circuit, Gene Quinn, IP News, IPWatchdog.com Blog, Microsoft, Patent Fools™, Patent Litigation
The plot thickens as the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an Order earlier today granting Microsoft an expedited appeal of its patent infringement loss to i4i Limited Partnership. In addition to losing approximately $300 million in a decision handed down on Tuesday, August 11, 2009, Judge Leonard Davis of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas also entered a permanent injunction that will become effective 60 days from the judgment date, ordering Microsoft to cease selling the ubiquitous word processing program Word. Of course, Microsoft could remove the infringing functionality from Word, which relates to the opening of a file containing custom XML. Early news reports confidently stated that Microsoft would have absolutely no difficulties accomplishing this task, which were ridiculous on their face, as evidenced by Microsoft scrambling at break-neck speed to secure an expedited hearing in extraordinary fashion. The oral arguments have been scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2009, so it appears as if this matter will be coming to a head sooner rather than later.
