MS loses lawsuit over Windows fonts

Microsoft today lost a lawsuit that could temporarly block it from selling netbooks and other PCs in China (registration required). A Beijing Intermediary People’s Court determined on Tuesday that two fonts used in Windows 98 SE, 2000, XP and Server 2003 weren't properly licensed from Zhongyi Electronic and that Microsoft must pull sales of any of those releases from the Chinese market. The two companies already had a license agreement but have disagreed over what it covered.

While 98 SE, 2000 and Server 2003 have effectively left the market, the move could put a temporary halt to many budget PCs in the populous nation. The launch of Windows 7 will likely let companies continue to offer netbooks, but many designs released before Windows 7, or those that won't meet it requirements, could be forced out of the market unless Microsoft provides a workaround.

The American company hasn't said whether it plans such an approach but plans to appeal the verdict and claims that it has values intellectual property rights and only uses technology when it believes it has a license to do so.

By Electronista Staff