Judge: Microsoft can't sell MS Word in the US

**m42** · 13 August, 2009, 05:14 AM

A Texas judge ruled Tuesday that Microsoft cannot sell one of its flagship products, Word, in the United States because of patent infringement.

You read that right: Microsoft cannot sell Word, the judge ruled.

Judge Leonard Davis, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, ordered a permanent injunction that "prohibits Microsoft from selling or importing to the United States any Microsoft Word products that have the capability of opening .XML, .DOCX or DOCM files (XML files) containing custom XML," according to an announcement by the plaintiff, Toronto-based i4i Inc.

Judge: Microsoft can't sell Word anymore

i4i sells XML plugins for Microsoft Word.

Microsoft plans to appeal.

**Aquarezz** · 13 August, 2009, 12:07 PM

I read the news also yesterday, this might become a problem for Microsoft now that they bought Office.Com. But since they're probably going to release a free version of their Office software they won't need to sell it anymore

I'm not sure about all that though, they're all rumors

(That Office.Com got bought by Microsoft is an official fact though)

**bogart** · 17 August, 2009, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Aquarezz

I read the news also yesterday, this might become a problem for Microsoft now that they bought Office.Com. But since they're probably going to release a free version of their Office software they won't need to sell it anymore

I'm not sure about all that though, they're all rumors

(That Office.Com got bought by Microsoft is an official fact though)

Microsoft is planning to launch a web-based version of Office 2010. Perhaps that will be free?

**TopDogger** · 17 August, 2009, 11:40 AM

Office products are a cash cow for Microsoft. I don't think they will stop selling them for very long. They just need to find a way to eliminate the XML files.

The biggest problem is that they would have to release a version that would not be compatible with the files created by the 2003-2007 versions of Word.

It will be interesting to see what they charge to access the web versions. I do not think it will be free. Microsoft is not known for goodwill or reasonable pricing.

**bogart** · 18 August, 2009, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by TopDogger

It will be interesting to see what they charge to access the web versions. I do not think it will be free. Microsoft is not known for goodwill or reasonable pricing.

Microsoft gave IE away to crush Netscape.

Perhaps they are being proactive as Google is planning to release some sort of web based office suite.