First | Previous | Next | Last

 

 

Law Offices of David L. Hoffman

 

"If you are going to appeal, do it right."

 

 

Newsletter 

WINTER 2010 

PATENTS, THE GREAT EQUALIZER

 

                The power of a patent can be incredible.  Just before Christmas, the Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit affirmed a $240 million judgment and an injunction against giant Microsoft, in favor of i4i, a custom software developer firm.  i4i Ltd. v. Microsoft, Fed. Cir., No. 2009-1504, Dec. 22, 2009. The patent covered making a map of "metacodes" (tags that tell the computer how to display text, e.g., in bold, or that otherwise identify the text) in e.g., a Microsoft WordŽ document.  Metacodes and the document's text are stored separately. That way the text or the metacodes can be modified or revised separately from each other, and the map acts as a key.

 

Microsoft made numerous arguments of patent invalidity and noninfringement, but the trial judge interpreted the claims favorably to i4i, and the jury found for i4i.  Moreover, Microsoft was found to have willfully infringed.  If i4i did not have a patent, there is no doubt that Microsoft would have blown i4i out of the marketplace.

 

Sincerely,

David Hoffman
Law Offices of David L. Hoffman

28494 Westinghouse Place, Suite 204

Valencia, California 91355

(661) 775-0300

(661) 775-9423 Fax

David@DLHpatent.com

DLHpatent.com

 

Go To Hoffman Law

                                                                 Register Now

                                                                       News

                                                                Related Topics

                                                                   More On Us

 

Picture of David

Tip of the Month

Every business has trademarks.  A new business name, a new product or service name, and sometimes even the look of a product or its packaging can function as a trademark.  Trademarks can often be the most valuable asset of a company, as they represent the goodwill of the company.  Make sure that your clients steer clear of the marks of others and protect their own marks.