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SC hears Microsoft’s patent appeal over Word
by Anter Prakash Singh - April 19, 2011 - comments
The litigation has been going on between the two companies for a long time. In 2007, i4i sued Microsoft, alleging violation of one of patents regarding the Extensible Markup Language (XML) used in MS Word program.
In what can be termed as one of the most significant patent cases in the recent years, the software giant Microsoft is involved in a legal fight with a small Canadian company i4i.
The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up the case and the outcome could have very wide implications on the patent law.
Microsoft and other large companies are looking for protection from the intellectual property litigation.
Long drawn litigation
The litigation has been going on between the two companies for a long time. In 2007, i4i sued Microsoft, alleging violation of one of patents regarding the Extensible Markup Language (XML) used in MS Word program.
A jury gave its ruling in favor of the i4i. Microsoft appealed against i4i ruling but lost it.
Later, Microsoft appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case, and the court agreed in November.
The Canadian company has found support from leading companies like 3M, GE, Proctor & Gamble and Dolby Laboratories. It has also been backed by a number of universities and capital venture firms.
The most important supporter is the U.S. Government which is supporting i4i in its fight against one of the largest American company.
The office of the U.S. Solicitor General will get 10 minutes out of the total 30 minutes allotted to i4i for presenting its case before the Supreme Court.
Loudon Owen, chairman, i4i said in a statement, “We have a gargantuan array of amici briefs. We go from the start of the innovation process to the end.”
Keenly observed legal fight by the technology world
The biggest names in the world of technology are showing interest in this legal battle.
Apart from the long term associates of Microsoft like Dell, Hewlett-Packard and the phone manufacturer HTC, others like Facebook, LinkedIn, ebay, and Netflix are also siding Microsoft.
IT has even found support from its main competitors Apple and Google, who are a part of Microsoft's friend of the court filings.
The Canadian company has found support from leading companies like 3M, GE, Proctor & Gamble and Dolby Laboratories. It has also been backed by a number of universities and capital venture firms.
Andy Culbert, associate general counsel of Microsoft, said in a statement, “The innovative companies have come out to support us.”
Sarah Chapman Columbia from the McDermott Will & Emery, where she practices intellectual property litigation, commented, “You don’t often see that many companies investing in writing amici briefs. It’s a big deal.”