Back in March, Microsoft lost its second appeal in attempting to overrule the $240+ million fine they were handed for infringing on an Office related XML pattern held by i4i. Microsoft currently has a third appeal in the works and is waiting to see if it will accepted by the court. In the meantime, contesting the i4i patent itself has been one of their top priorities.
Our friend, Mary Jo Foley, over at ZDNet, has posted an update in the ongoing Microsoft/i4i situation. As part of the dispute, Microsoft had asked the patent office of the United States to re-examine the Office-related patent that had resulted in a $300+ million ruling against them back in December of 2009. According to i4i, the patent office has officially denied Microsoft"s request.
According to Microsoft"s Director of Public Affairs, Kevin Kutz, the Redmond based company is still planning to fight. "We are disappointed, but there still remain important matters of patent law at stake, and we are considering our options to get them addressed, including a petition to the Supreme Court."
Should this case make its way to the Supreme Court, things could get much more interesting. Still, with the way this case has gone so far, things aren"t looking too good for Microsoft. In the meantime, Microsoft has been forced to remove the disputed technology from all of their infringing Office products and will continue adhering to that ruling.