Judgement Against Microsoft Declares XML Editing Software To Be Worth $98?

Many people have written to tell us about the patent infringement lawsuit that resulted in a $200 million judgement against Microsoft by a small Toronto firm called i4i. Techdirt has a line on the details of the suit where the patent in question is for "separating the manipulation of content from the architecture of the document." i4i argues that this covers basic XML editing to the tune of $98 per application. "It's quite troubling that doing something as simple as adding an XML editor should infringe on a patent, but what's even more troubling is that the court somehow ruled that such an editor was worth $98 in the copies of Microsoft Word where it was used. An XML editor. $98. And people say patent awards aren't out of sync with reality?"

Comments

Re:Altova

[PitaBred]

Tell you what... I'll set up a site with a Winamp skin installer called "Media Win G-Playa xT 3.0 Enterprise Edition", you tell your manger you need it, and I'll split the profits with you 50/50. Deal?

Re:What about Open Office

[Zarluk]

I do believe that you, americans, have to fix your entire law system... it is resembling Kafka's books :-(

The shit is, that if the US justice goes down the drain, it will soon spread all over the world. We see some disturbing signs here in Europe, too...

Please, fix your screwed patent system, so we all can sleep a little better ;-)

You Never Spoke A Truer Word

[Velska1]

'damned if you are Microsoft...'.

Now, that would cut it in my book. A monopoly abusing its power is worth damning a little. What I found especially heartening is, that as Microsoft has become a patent troll, it is also being sued itself. Perhaps one of these days M$ will have a less stringent approach to enforcing their soft patents?

I'm not holding my breath.