9 responses to “Finally, details on the Custom XML modifications in Word 2007 effective January 10”

1. 

   Mark C January 4th, 2010 at 08:27

   Woody
   The intro for the update your referenced clearly states and I quote:

   This is an update to Microsoft Office Word 2007 (including Office 2007 suites) and Microsoft Office Word 2003 (including the Office 2003 suites). This update was issued as a result of a United States court ruling on December 22, 2009. Generally, customers who purchase or license Word 2007 or Word 2003 from Microsoft after January 10, 2010 for use in the United States and its territories will need to use updated software that does not include a particular custom XML tagging implementation. End quote

   Therefore Office 2003 IS affected, just like the language in the judges order.

2. 

   woody January 4th, 2010 at 21:17

   Mark -

   True, but I only find reference to .docx, .docm and .xml files – not their Word 2003 counterparts. I can see how MS is changing Word 2007 – pulling boxes off store shelves, getting new binaries to OEMs, updating VL versions of Office 2007 – but I haven’t seen how they’re changing Word 2003. Have you heard anything?

3. 

   Yuhong bao January 5th, 2010 at 00:25

   “True, but I only find reference to .docx, .docm and .xml files – not their Word 2003 counterparts. ”
   .xml does come from Word 2003. Yes, Word 2003 does have an XML format.

4. 

   Mark C January 5th, 2010 at 07:51

   Woody
   No word (;-) on 2003 yet but here is what one reader commented on to the redmondmag.com (Independent voice of the Microsoft IT community ) wrote.

   Quote: I received an email from Microsoft over the weekend and it looks like the injunction they got (based on Microsoft’s email) says any currently installed copies with the code do not have to be fixed. >>>Snip of Microsoft’s email>>>On December 22, 2009, a United States court of appeals ruled that Microsoft must stop selling versions of Microsoft Word (including Microsoft Office suites) that contain certain functionality that was ruled to infringe on a United States patent.
   This injunction only applies to new Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office licenses purchased from Microsoft on or after January 11, 2010 in or for deployment in the United States or its territories. If you are only using licenses acquired prior to January 11, 2010, you do not need to take any action.
   End quote.

   Appears MS is interpreting the PERMANENT injunction differently than what the order says.

   Remember old wise sage PC Maconfusious say:
   One judge, three judges win each hand dealt by soft ones.

5. 

   woody January 5th, 2010 at 09:49

   Yuhong -

   Point well taken. So the Word 2003 part of the patent infringement is only applicable to .xml files, and not .docs?

   Man, this is getting more confusing by the minute…

6. 

   Mark C January 5th, 2010 at 22:36

   woody
   From i4i website:

   x4o© – The One Step Solution to XML Authoring in Microsoft® Word

   Note they have info on their XML new version

   Now i4i response to the judges injunction

   web link: (full version)
   http://www.i4i.com/collateral/08_12_09_release-judge_upholds_verdict_favoring_i4i_against_Microsoft.pdf

   and what they partially say:

   Quote

   Microsoft is permanently enjoined from performing the following actions with Microsoft Word 
   2003, Microsoft Word 2007, and Microsoft Word products not more than colorably different 
   from Microsoft Word 2003 or Microsoft Word 2007 (collectively “Infringing and Future Word 
   Products”) during the term of the ‘449 patent: 
   • Selling, offering to sell, and/or importing in or into the United States any Infringing and 
   Future Word Products that have the capability of opening a .XML, .DOCX, or .DOCM file 
   (“an XML file”) containing custom XML; 
   • Using any Infringing and Future Word Products to open an XML file containing custom 
   XML; 
   • Instructing or encouraging anyone  to use any Infringing and Future Word Products to 
   open an XML file containing custom XML; 
   • Providing support or assistance to anyone that describes how to use any infringing and 
   Future Word Products to open an XML file containing  XML; and 
   • Testing, demonstrating, or marketing the ability of the Infringing and Future Word 
   Products to open an XML file containing custom XML. 

   End quote

   Methinks it matters not what form XML takes but any XML file.

7. 

   Mark C January 6th, 2010 at 22:48

   Woody

   MS has already released an OEM patch for deactivating the XML back in October 2009!!

   From: http://www.technobuffalo.com/blog/news/dissecting-the-microsoft-word-injunction

   Quote: Meanwhile, Redmond’s Microsoft has issued a mandatory patch for US versions of its Office 2007 suite. End quote

   From MS page (web site noted below) Quote
   2007 Microsoft Office Supplement Release (October 2009)

   Microsoft has released a supplement for Office 2007 (October 2009). The following patch is required for the United States. The patch will work with all Office 2007 languages.

   2007 Microsoft Office Supplemental Release (October 2009) .img 12.9 MB

   After this patch is installed, Word will no longer read the Custom XML elements contained within DOCX, DOCM, or XML files. These files will continue to open, but any Custom XML elements will be removed. The ability to handle custom XML markup is typically used in association with automated server based processing of Word documents. Custom XML is not typically used by most end users of Word.
   End quote

   Source for above :
   http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?pageid=563214

8. 

   woody January 7th, 2010 at 06:47

   Mark -

   That’s the patch I referred to – but it doesn’t cover Office 2003, as best I can tell.

   It’s entirely possible that OEMs are no longer allowed to sell Office 2003. That would put MS in compliance – at least, from MS’s point of view.

9. 

   Mark C January 9th, 2010 at 08:23

   Woody
   Ain’t over yet
   MS has asked for a re-hearing.