US Federal Appeals Court - Microsoft CANNOT sell Office!

dlb · Dec 26, 2009

More info: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091222/ap_on_bi_ge/us_microsoft_patent

According to the article, MS infringed on someone else's patent of Office (primarily Word according to the article but it's a bit vague), but it doesn't state which version of Office is affected: Office 2007? 2010? It goes on to state that MS can NO LONGER SELL OFFICE after Jan11 2010. So, does that mean that after that date, we can freely install Office on PCs? If I have an Office 2007 with legal, valid product key, can I freely install it on my home PC, my friends' systems, my neighbor's PC, etc? What exactly are the effects of this "ban" on Office?

Thanks!

Happy New Year! :drink

TimW · Dec 26, 2009

Great....just had to buy Office 2007 student edition for my daughter!! :cry:cry

(I suspect that it will not be enforced and will go the way of most lawsuits against MS!!)

plastidust · Dec 26, 2009

Theres some info on this in an article at ars technica: Microsoft barred from selling Word, has plan for workaround

sach2 · Dec 26, 2009

I think the settlement effects only copies sold after Jan, 11 2010. It's more of a cease and desist order where they will stop and pay a penalty (if they can't wear the little company down during the appeals process).

Of course there is no free ride for us little guys. Just a patch that removes the functionality of the offending component. Maybe we should study up on "Custom XML elements" and then sue MS stating that we bought Office specifically for that component and we feel cheated? Haha! Good luck with that.

samtal · Dec 26, 2009

Another reason to use the free open office.org

http://www.openoffice.org/

DavidGP · Dec 27, 2009

Their will always be someone that thinks or has a small claim on a bit of software the IP laws are a PITA IMHO, Apple are always getting caught out with it and have a huge one with Nokia at present.

The MS one will not do much in reality apart from making i4i Inc a pile of $$$ and make a name for themselves and in reality XML is hardly used to be honest in Office so will with a small removal make this null and void by early Jan.

For the end user that already has it it means nothing, you can still use your copy ok, it may at a later date have an update that may remove XML from Office if the technology is not paid for by MSFT, which will likely be the case at some point, but who here uses XML? who actually knows what its used for? *without using google!

Wonder if Sun and Apple have paid for a licence for this software of i4i inc as they both use it in iWorks and Open Office, so they may not be free and clear yet in this.

Also have to laugh as i4i promote XML on their website with touting its Word connection http://www.i4i.com/x4o.htm

cosanostra0905 · Dec 27, 2009

I don't think that means that we can freely install Office on PCs. The company who has the patent will be the ones who sue you if you pirate the software. rolleyes

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US Federal Appeals Court - Microsoft CANNOT sell Office!

dlb MajorGeek

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