I4i
Encyclopedia
i4i is a small technology company in Toronto, Canada founded by Michel Vulpe
in 1993.
for an invention that makes it possible for computer users to use regular word processor
s as XML /SGML editors. In 1998, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
issued patent #5,787,449, which describes the invention as "a system and method for the separate manipulation of the architecture and content of a document, particularly for data representation and transformations. The system, for use by computer software developers, removes dependency on document encoding technology. A map of metacodes found in the document is produced and provided and stored separately from the document. The map indicates the location and addresses of metacodes in the document. The system allows of multiple views of the same content, the ability to work solely on structure and solely on content, storage efficiency of multiple versions and efficiency of operation."
In 2007 Microsoft
filed an ex-partie re-examination request with the USPTO citing prior art as invalidating the 5,787,449 patent. The USPTO reviewed the prior art and Microsoft's assertions of patent invalidaty in light of the prior art. In April 2010 the USPTO affirmed all the challenged claims. Microsoft also filed for patent re-examination with the USPTO. The re-examination confirmed all the challenged claims. Not satisfied with this result Microsoft file an appeal to the Commissioner of Patents. This was turned down. Microsoft then filed another re-examination request. This second request was denied by the USPTO.
In May 2007 Vulpe and i4i successfully sued Microsoft, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
, for willfully infringing the '449 patent. The court awarded over $240 million in damages and granted the first ever injunction against the infringing product, Microsoft Word. The injunction was stayed by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit pending Microsoft's appeal. On December 22, 2009 the Court affirmed in full the decision of the lower court: the injunction was reinstated, the damages awarded affirmed and the validity of the patent affirmed.
Microsoft subsequently filed a writ of certioria with the United States Supreme Court The question put to the Court is:
"The Patent Act provides that “[a] patent shall be presumed valid” and that “[t]he burden of establishing
invalidity of a patent or any claim thereof shall rest on the party asserting such invalidity.” 35 U.S.C. § 282. The Federal Circuit held below that Microsoft was required to prove its defense of invalidity under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) by “clear and convincing evidence,” even though the prior art on which the invalidity defense rests was not considered by the Patent and Trademark Office prior to the issuance of the asserted patent. The question presented is: Whether the court of appeals erred in holding that Microsoft’s invalidity defense must be proved by
clear and convincing evidence."
The writ was granted in November 2010.
Michel Vulpe
Michel Vulpe is the co-inventor of a technology described in US patent 5,787,449. In 2007 Michel Vulpe launched a successful suit against Microsoft for willfully infringing on this patent.- Career :...
in 1993.
Patent dispute
In 1994, Michel Vulpe and Stephen Owens filed for a patentPatent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
for an invention that makes it possible for computer users to use regular word processor
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
s as XML /SGML editors. In 1998, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
issued patent #5,787,449, which describes the invention as "a system and method for the separate manipulation of the architecture and content of a document, particularly for data representation and transformations. The system, for use by computer software developers, removes dependency on document encoding technology. A map of metacodes found in the document is produced and provided and stored separately from the document. The map indicates the location and addresses of metacodes in the document. The system allows of multiple views of the same content, the ability to work solely on structure and solely on content, storage efficiency of multiple versions and efficiency of operation."
In 2007 Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
filed an ex-partie re-examination request with the USPTO citing prior art as invalidating the 5,787,449 patent. The USPTO reviewed the prior art and Microsoft's assertions of patent invalidaty in light of the prior art. In April 2010 the USPTO affirmed all the challenged claims. Microsoft also filed for patent re-examination with the USPTO. The re-examination confirmed all the challenged claims. Not satisfied with this result Microsoft file an appeal to the Commissioner of Patents. This was turned down. Microsoft then filed another re-examination request. This second request was denied by the USPTO.
In May 2007 Vulpe and i4i successfully sued Microsoft, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over the eastern part of Texas and is a part of the Fifth Circuit. The court's headquarters are in Tyler, Texas and has five subdivision offices in Beaumont, Lufkin, Marshall,...
, for willfully infringing the '449 patent. The court awarded over $240 million in damages and granted the first ever injunction against the infringing product, Microsoft Word. The injunction was stayed by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit pending Microsoft's appeal. On December 22, 2009 the Court affirmed in full the decision of the lower court: the injunction was reinstated, the damages awarded affirmed and the validity of the patent affirmed.
Microsoft subsequently filed a writ of certioria with the United States Supreme Court The question put to the Court is:
"The Patent Act provides that “[a] patent shall be presumed valid” and that “[t]he burden of establishing
invalidity of a patent or any claim thereof shall rest on the party asserting such invalidity.” 35 U.S.C. § 282. The Federal Circuit held below that Microsoft was required to prove its defense of invalidity under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) by “clear and convincing evidence,” even though the prior art on which the invalidity defense rests was not considered by the Patent and Trademark Office prior to the issuance of the asserted patent. The question presented is: Whether the court of appeals erred in holding that Microsoft’s invalidity defense must be proved by
clear and convincing evidence."
The writ was granted in November 2010.
Supreme Court ruling
On June 9, 2011, the US Supreme Court, in an 8 to 0 decision, ruled in favour of i4i. Microsoft was compeled to pay $300 million in damages to i4i.See also
- List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 564
- 2010 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States2010 term opinions of the Supreme Court of the United StatesThis is a list of the opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States delivered during its 2010 term, which began October 4, 2010 and concluded October 1, 2011...