Microsoft banned by judge from selling Word in U.S.

Microsoft cannot sell its Word software in the U.S. because of a patent infringement, a Texas judge ruled Tuesday. The software giant has 60 days to comply with the ruling.

An appeal or settlement will likely come in the next two months from Microsoft (MSFT) to Toronto-based i4i, which is alleging that Microsoft willingly violated its 1998 patent on a method for reading XML. The Canadian company issued a press release today with details of the ruling and allegations against Microsoft.