i4i

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court ruling today that Microsoft infringed on the patents of a tiny Canadian company, i4i, and required the software giant to pay $290 million.

The ruling could have broad implications for the way patent law is applied to technology. Microsoft has hoped the court would change the standard by which patents could be invalidated, requiring on a "preponderance of the evidence." But the court upheld the current "clear and convincing evidence" standard in ruling in favor of i4i.

In a statement, Microsoft expressed disappointment with the ruling.… Read more

The U.S. Supreme Court today pressed lawyers representing Microsoft about changing existing patent law as the software giant argued to overturn lower court rulings that it infringed on patents held by i4i, a tiny Toronto company.

The case has become one of the most important in patent law in years. Microsoft is hoping to create a precedent that would make it harder for companies with patent claims to prove infringement. Several large technology companies, including Apple, Google, Facebook, and Cisco, have filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting Microsoft's arguments. At the same time, i4i's case has drawn support from … Read more

Editors' note, 11:39 a.m. PT: The Supreme Court has posted a transcript (PDF) from the morning's hearing. We'll have a story up on that shortly, looking at the justices' questioning and what that might portend.

This morning, Microsoft plays its last card defending itself against a patent lawsuit that could cost the company much more than the $200 million judgment a jury awarded a tiny Toronto company two years ago.

The case, being taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court today, could reshape patent law, potentially shielding Microsoft and other industrial giants from intellectual property … Read more

In its final push before presenting arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court, Microsoft filed a legal brief late today arguing that the court shouldn't require it to offer "clear and convincing evidence" to overcome the traditional presumption that patents approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are valid.

The filing comes just 11 days before Microsoft and i4i, a tiny Toronto company, presents arguments in a hearing at the court. That hearing is likely the last opportunity Microsoft has to defend itself against a $200 million judgment that held that the company infringed on … Read more

I4i has won the support of the U.S. government as its patent infringement case against Microsoft winds it way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by I4i in 2007 in which it claimed that Microsoft had violated one of I4i's patents by including a custom XML feature in Microsoft Word. Though Microsoft lost on both the initial verdict and the appeal, the software giant filed another appeal last year, this time with the Supreme Court, which agreed last November to hear the case.

I4i, a small Canadian company, has received strong … Read more

Microsoft's patent fracas with Canadian firm I4i has been given new life, as the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear the software giant's appeal.

The case, which went in favor of I4i last year, centered around Microsoft's use of XML technology within its Word software. Following I4i's victory, Microsoft was required to strip the functionality from its software as part of an injunction.

"We are gratified by the court's decision," Microsoft's corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for litigation David Howard said in a statement. "It's a … Read more

Software company I4i said Tuesday that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has validated the core of its claims against Microsoft in a dispute over the titan's Office suite.

The patent office, I4i said, has "confirmed the patentability of all claims" of I4i's patent No. 5,787,449, which was granted in 1998. The patent office had been re-examining that patent as Microsoft fought I4i's claims regarding XML features in Office.

"This is a very material step in our litigation against Microsoft. Put simply: i4i's patent is clearly and unequivocally valid. Even … Read more

It's turning out to be a busy day for Microsoft's legal team.

The software maker on Thursday lost its bid to have a full appeals court review I4i's patent case in which the Toronto company was awarded both millions in monetary damages and an injunction against the inclusion of custom XML features in Word. Separately, meanwhile, the company is suing a maker of Xbox add-ons over that company's Xbox 360 controller.

In the I4i case, Microsoft said it is still figuring out its next move, which could include asking the Supreme Court to hear the case, … Read more

Although Microsoft was largely ready for an injunction that went into effect on Monday against selling certain versions of Microsoft Office, there were a few visible impacts.

The injunction stems from a verdict in which the custom XML function in recent versions of Microsoft Word was found to infringe on technology patented by Toronto-based I4i. A judge later issued an injunction barring sales of Office 2003 and Office 2007 versions containing the feature.

As noted by Computerworld, most versions of Office were unavailable from Microsoft's online store. As of 1:30 p.m. PST, only the $679 Office Ultimate … Read more