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Microsoft Loses Office Patent Dispute

Posted by Zonk on from the lesson-is-not-to-lose-a-lawsuit-if-you're-a-big-target dept.

cwolfsheep writes "According to CNet, Microsoft has lost a patent dispute with a developer involving the company's Excel and Access product lines; specifically how they interact via spreadsheets. Carlos Armando Amado had filed a patent in 1994: the dispute covers Microsoft's products from March 1997 to July 2003. Office 2003 users will need to upgrade to Service Pack 2; Office XP users will need to apply a patch."

1 of 228 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Apply this patch to remove functionality! by JBHarris · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I applaud Microsoft for not doing what I would have done in this situation: pull a Google and ignore the court's demand. They are actually providing patches & updates to solve the problem. I wouldn't be so accomidating.

    Also, unless the Guatemalan inventor has a competing product, I don't see the court's point of enforcing this patent.

    Patents where created to encourage innovation. Remember?