Posts Tagged ‘Word’
Microsoft Loses Yet Another Word Patent Appeal
Back in January, Erictric reported that Microsoft filed a second appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after a U.S. ruled in favor Canadian company i4i Inc., which accused the Redmond-based company of infringing a XML patent with its Office 2007 and Microsoft Word programs.
Today, we learn that Microsoft has lost its appeal, yet again. The company is now facing a fee of up to $240 million. That’s probably on top of already high fees that Microsoft paid to the best of lawyers to help the company get out of this mess. Unfortunately, not even the best attorneys could help Redmond on this one.
Apparently, the reason why the appeal was denied again is because there’s enough evidence pointing that Microsoft was aware that the i4i technology was patented when it used it on Word. Still, Microsoft might be able to file another appeal. This time with the Supreme Court.
More as we learn new information.
[ via BBC ]
Microsoft Files Another Appeal in i4i Inc. Case
Lliterally only a couple of days before the injunction against Microsoft Word and Office goes into full effect on Monday, January 11, Microsoft has announced that it has yet again filed another appeal on Friday [yesterday]. While Microsoft has already started complying with the injunction by shipping new versions of Word and Office without the trouble-causing XML feature, the company has asked for a rehearing with either the full appeals court or the partial panel that heard its case.
Microsoft said in a statement:
“Today Microsoft filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for both panel rehearing and rehearing en banc in the I4i case. The petition details significant conflicts we believe the December 22 decision creates with established precedents governing trial procedure and the determination of damages, and we are concerned that the decision weakens judges’ authority to apply appropriate safeguards in future patent trials.” More »
Microsoft Responds to Banning of Word and Office 2007
Just a couple of hours ago, we reported that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of i4i Inc. banning Microsoft from selling its Microsoft Word and Office 2007 products starting January 11, 2010. A few moments ago, Microsoft released a statement in response to the Court’s decision.
According to Microsoft the injunction only affects Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Office 2007. Ever since the i4i Inc. filed the lawsuit back in August, Microsoft has apparently been preparing for this moment by removing the “little used” XML feature from its Word and Office 2007 software. They expect to have the updated Word and Office 2007 products ready by January 11, 2010, and keep selling them with no problems. Copies that have been already purchased will not be affected by the ban. More »
Google Quietly Releases Its Own Dictionary
Yes, Google now has its very own definition and translation online dictionary. No one is certain when exactly Google quietly launched the new service, which can be found at Google.com/Dictionary. The LA Times is credited as being the first to make the discovery.
Google is already familiar to the word of online definitions and translations. Before, you could search the definition of a word by using the ‘define:word’ search term on Google.com. Also, Google has allowed people for a very long time to translate words and sentences into approximately 51 different languages by using Google Translate, which seems to be incorporated in the new dictionary. More »
Microsoft Office to be Released in June 2010
Six editions of Microsoft Office are slated for release in June 2010, we’re learning today from Neowin. Of these six versions (Starter, Home and Student, Home and Business, Standard, Professional, Professional Plus) we will see a free version, which includes Word and Excel, and will unfortunately include advertising and limited functionality.
Currently, there is not information on pricing for the product. Additionally, a Mac version of the suite is also expected to be released in 2010, though there apparently is not a set date for launch.
If you simply cannot wait, downloadable versions should be available to developers via MSDN and TechNet. You can also currently download the beta of Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus.
Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 Beta Officially Released to Everyone
Microsoft has just released its Office Professional Plus 2010 Beta. We did write that you could download the free Office 2010 Beta for 32-bit and 64-bit machines yesterday. However, you needed to be either a member of MSDN or TechNet. Today’s release is available for everyone. You only need to register to be able to download Microsoft’s latest Office software for free. More »
Tags: 2010, beta, bugs, download, microsoft, Office 2010, Office Professional Plus, PowerPoint, pre-release, Word
Microsoft Introduces Free, Ad-Supported Version of Office 2010
Microsoft announced on Wednesday that a free version of Office 2010 dubbed Office Stater 2010 will be pre-installed on new PCs. Office Stater 2010 will substitute Microsoft Works with an ad-supported version that will only include Word and Excel, both which will be very basic in functionality. According to Takeshi Numoto, Office’s Corporate Vice President, the purpose is to expose new PC owners to Office 2010 as soon as they start working on their new computers.
Any user who wishes to upgrade to a more functional full version of Office 2010 [Home & Student, Home & Business, and Professional] will be able to do so by purchasing a product key card from any major electronic retail outlets. The card will contain a number what will unlock either one of the three the pre-installed full versions of Office 2010.
For existing Office users who wish to try or upgrade to the new Office 2010, Microsoft unveiled “Click-to-Run” which utilizes virtualization technology to allow users to download and install Office 2010 and run it side-by-side with their existing version of Office. Click-to Run customers will be able to purchase Office 2010 online.
A broad beta of Office 2010 is expected to be ready later this year. To learn more about Office 2010, visit www.microsoft.com/office2010.
Tags: ad-supported, Excel, free, microsoft, Microsoft Works, Office 2010, Office Starter 2010, starter, Word
U.S. Court of Appeals Grants Microsoft A Reprieve in Word Case
Just a few hours ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals granted Microsoft a reprieve to the Word injunction which would prevent Microsoft from selling its Word Processor software starting October 10. What all this means is that Microsoft can keep selling its Word software… at least for now. This is what the U.S. Court of Appeals said in the paper submitted:
“Without prejudicing the ultimate determination of this case by the merits panel, the court determines based upon the motion papers submitted that Microsoft has met its burden to obtain a stay of the injunction”
At the beginning of August, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ordered Microsoft to stop selling Word due to a patent infringement suit filed by Toronto-based company i4i Inc. A few days later, Microsoft submitted an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals which claimed not only Microsoft would be affected by the decision but also users and computer manufacturers as well. HP and Dell helped Microsoft by filing amicus curiae or “friend of the court” on terms that the injunction would cause both companies a lot of their economical resources and time.
Microsoft was granted an appeal hearing scheduled for September 23 in which both parties [Microsoft and i4i Inc.] will present their cases.