Cease is the word.

Maybe MS will stop C&Ding; companies that have “windows” in their name ... “windows commander” for example. heh. Karma ..

That coulld hurt Microsoft if the case has merit. People may be buying new PCs to take advantage of Windows 7 and would also buy Office or Word. My wife just finished a college course that required she use the latest version of Office. She said that she likes that version of Word better than the older ones.

“If the case has merit”? The circuit judge who ruled against MSFT seemed to think so.

This puts MSFT in an awkward position. MSFT has been a staunch defender of software patents. They can try to appeal the case on the basis that the patent is invalid. But, if they pursue invalidating the patent, the court might blow the case open to rule on software patents in general. MSFT probably doesn’t want to go there. If they do nothing, they are prohibited from selling Word.

“If the case has merit”? The circuit judge who ruled against MSFT seemed to think so.

I said that because this court seems to be the place to go for these jindf rulings. It may not stand on appeal.

I am sitting at the Costco food “court” while my car gets some tire service. In the store they are selling Office Student Home Edition for $79

Sorry about the typo. I didn’t see that when I was composing post, I am using my iPhone in landscape mode,  I type better in portrait mode.

Sir Harry is correct.  This court is not the most respected of the federal court.  Had this been the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, I would give the judges the benefit of doubt and say that Microsoft is in real trouble.  With this court, I’d want to study the opinion.

Also, it isn’t hard for Microsoft to modify Word to avoid the patent, if the patent is valid and Microsoft is in fact infringing on it.  Microsoft could revert to its prior file formats or create another file format or, and here’s a thought, Microsoft could use ODF file formats pursuant to the terms of ODF’s open-source license and allow existing users to translate existing Word files to ODF.

5,787,499 is listed in the USPTO as “withdrawn”.  Is there a more accurate number somewhere?

Okay, fellow Mac fans, let’s not be hypocrites. If it were Apple being sued you’d all be screaming bloody murder about patent trolls.

Okay, fellow Mac fans, let’s not be hypocrites. If it were Apple being sued you’d all be screaming bloody murder about patent trolls.

I don’t see anything hypocritical about our posts.

The patent is actually 5,787,449. Thanks!