Texas Judge Rules Microsoft Can't Sell Word Anymore

Go ahead and clean up the coffee you just spit all over your keyboard. We'll wait. Back? OK. A judge in Texas ruled that Microsoft Word's XML systems violate patents by Toronoto-based i4i Inc. Word uses XML in reading and writing XML, DOCX, and DOCM files.The lawsuit alleges that MS violated i4i's 1998 XML patent #5,787,449. The injunction will go into effect in 60 days and prevent Microsoft from selling or demonstrating Microsoft Word. MS will have to pay i4i about $290 million in damages.