Andre Yoskowitz
28 Aug 2009 2:14
Earlier this month, software giant Microsoft was shocked when they lost a patent dispute to i4i and were told that the word processing application Word would be blocked from sales starting in October.
Microsoft has appealed the decision and today has gotten some backup support from the large computer manufacturers (and big Microsoft customers) HP and Dell.
The companies asked the judge in the case to reconsider the injunction, or at least delay it by 120 days.
"The District Court's injunction of Microsoft Word will have an impact far beyond Microsoft," said the Dell and HP brief. "Microsoft Word is ubiquitous among word processing software and is included on [redacted] computers sold by Dell."
The full statement also mapped out how Dell would be hurt severely monetarily and would be forced to "restructure its products."