Microsoft has lost its appeal case against i4i, forcing the software giant to alter Microsoft Word. We first covered the story in May after a jury determined that a custom XML feature in Word infringed on an i4i patent, which led to a $200 million penalty for Redmond. In August, a judge placed an injunction on sales of Word pending Microsoft's appeal, in addition to another $77 million in fees. According to Reuters, the accumulated damages total $290 million.
In accordance with the lost appeal, Microsoft said it would remove the infringing feature from all copies of Microsoft Word 2007 sold on or after January 11, 2010. Prior copies are not affected, and Word 2010 will exclude i4i's technology. While Redmond is complying with the ruling, a spokesperson said the company is looking into a "rehearing by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals en banc or a request for a writ of certiorari from the US Supreme Court."