Microsoft gets a taste Texas justice: judge slams Word with banhammer

At high noon, Microsoft and US District Court Judge Leonard Davis met on a dusty stretch of Texas road. The wind whistled past, carrying the occasional tumbleweed. A Walmart bag danced in the updraft. As the clock struck high noon, not a sound could be heard except for the jangling of spurs as each combatant shot a steely glance at the other.

Right arm at the ready, fingers flexing. Suddenly, Microsoft reached for its holster, grabbing at the Word 2010 Technical Preview. They didn't count on the lightning-fast reflexes of Judge Davis. With his first gavel he knocked the software back ten paces. Microsoft reeled, and turned to retrieve the case. A second gavel to the knee left Microsoft quivering in the dirt.

"Now listen hear, you slippery rattlesnake," he said, "XML patents is sacred 'round these parts, and we don't take kindly to people violatin' 'em." He tipped up the brim of his hat to reveal his stern brow and continued "I'm givin' you sixty days to come up with $290 million in gold bullion. And I don't want you bringin' that trash around here until you can abide by the laws of the great US of A."

Microsoft looked up with chagrin. "We are disappointed by the court's ruling," they said, breaking character rather suddenly. "We believe the evidence clearly demonstrated that we do not infringe and that the i4i patent is invalid. We will appeal the verdict." Well, of course there will be appeals - which means Microsoft will likely never have to stop selling or testing Word in the United States.

Who will win in the end? Unfortunately, that will be decided by lawyers in fancy suits, not gunslingers.

[via Seattle PI]

Tags: court-rulings, cowboys, gunfight, louis-lamour, microsoft-office, news, texas-justice, word