Microsoft Doesn't Follow Rules

It all started in May, when i4i found out that Microsoft's  new version of Office uses some of their patented XML technologies. Now, in December, Microsoft has really gotten their hands in a dirty troublesome. i4i, which created some XML technologies, wasn't very pleased with Microsoft mainly for the fact that they voided their patent and used these XML technologies in their Microsoft Office suite. Because Microsoft Word is one of the most popular word processor on the planet, for the fact that it comes on many computers preinstalled, this is a very bad thing for Microsoft.

Because of Microsoft's "smart" move, Office and Word is banned from being sold starting on January 11 of 2010. Granted that this isn't in a long time, but it wasn't a very smart move on Microsoft's part. Microsoft is working on a software to be distributed that will not contain these XML technologies from i4i. They say that the Office 2010 suite

does not contain the technology covered by the injunction

Even though they say that they "very little" of these XML techonogies from i4i, it's still voiding a patent.

Just to sum it up for you, this is what Microsoft said:

This injunction applies only to copies of Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Office 2007 sold in the U.S. on or after the injunction date of January 11, 2010.  Copies of these products sold before this date are not affected.

As long as Microsoft is fixing up the issue, we should hear nothing more of this. Just for an added bonus, yes, Microsoft isn't getting away with this without paying any money; they have to pay a whopping $290 million! And by the way, OpenOffice users don't have to worry at all.