Microsoft patent case goes to trial

Dom · Sep 14, 2004, 08:33 AM

Arendi Holdings, a small Swiss company, filed the lawsuit in 2002, charging Microsoft with violating its U.S. Patent 6,323,853 for a "method, system and computer readable medium for addressing handling from a computer program." The case is scheduled to begin a jury trial Tuesday in U.S. District Court for Rhode Island, with a decision expected in about two weeks.

The complaint revolves around "Smart Tags," technology Microsoft introduced with Office XP for linking words in a document to other actions or information. Using Smart Tags, for example, an Office user can automatically add a contact to his address book by clicking on a name in a document.

Arendi alleges the technology infringes on its patent, which covers a method for automatically executing a search for information related to a name or address typed into a document. Arendi sells SyncEngine, an Office-related product that allows synchronization of data between Outlook and other programs.

Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said the company would challenge both the validity of Arendi's patent and the infringement claim. "Smart Tags is technology we invented and is based on engineering work that predates Arnedi's invention," she said.

The lawyer representing Arendi did not respond to requests for comment.

Microsoft beat a previous challenge to Smart Tags last year when a federal judge in Wisconsin dismissed a patent claim by Hyperphase Technologies.

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Source: c|net

Sep 14, 2004, 08:33 AM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Microsoft patent case goes to trial Arendi Holdings, a small Swiss company, filed the lawsuit in 2002, charging Microsoft with violating its U.S. Patent 6,323,853 for a "method, system and computer readable medium for addressing handling from a computer program." The case is scheduled to begin a jury trial Tuesday in U.S. District Court for Rhode Island, with a decision expected in about two weeks. The complaint revolves around "Smart Tags," technology Microsoft introduced with Office XP for linking words in a document to other actions or information. Using Smart Tags, for example, an Office user can automatically add a contact to his address book by clicking on a name in a document. Arendi alleges the technology infringes on its patent, which covers a method for automatically executing a search for information related to a name or address typed into a document. Arendi sells SyncEngine, an Office-related product that allows synchronization of data between Outlook and other programs. Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said the company would challenge both the validity of Arendi's patent and the infringement claim. "Smart Tags is technology we invented and is based on engineering work that predates Arnedi's invention," she said. The lawyer representing Arendi did not respond to requests for comment. Microsoft beat a previous challenge to Smart Tags last year when a federal judge in Wisconsin dismissed a patent claim by Hyperphase Technologies. ___________________ Source: c\|net