This has to be one of the most ridiculous court cases of all time!
Judge bans Microsoft Word sales

“I4i filed a patent in 1998 that outlined a means for “manipulating the architecture and the content of a document separately from each other” invoking XML as a means allowing users to format text documents.”
This seems to mean that ANY software which uses XML to format something in infringing on this patent.

In practice, XML is becoming more and more prevalent as a means of ‘marking up’ documents. Which would mean ANY software which uses this technology is in breach of the patent, i.e. web browsers, word processors etc…

Although I am no expert, this is EXACTLY why patents should NOT be used for ‘possible’ technology.
I could apply for a patent on something like “A car which runs on inert gasses as fuel” and sue EVERY car manufacturer trying to develop such technology.

STUPID!!!! (and it will stifle technological progress if people start panicking about breach of patents).

Let someone invent something FIRST, then apply for a patent to protect it ~ that’s the way this should run…

And the U.S.A. is apparently granting patents on genetic stuff too – imagine if you found out you were infringing someone’s patent simply be existing!!

I feel sorry for Micro$oft on this one…

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