Judge to Microsoft: You Can’t Sell Word

Microsoft Word has infringed on a patent, and can no longer be sold, a U.S. District Court judge has ruled. At issue is custom XML, a Web programming format that lets users change how documents are read across various word processing applications. Toronto-based i4i alleges that Microsoft infringed a patent that lets users create and edit XML content, and filed a lawsuit in March 2007. Of course, the injunction on selling Word — effective in 60 days — isn’t likely to take hold, as Microsoft will either come  up with a work around or try to delay the injunction. The company, unsurprisingly, plans to appeal, so don’t count on this battle being over for some time. [via Seattle PI and Yahoo, Image]