Ouch. For those that don’t know, Microsoft faced a lawsuit for their implementation of an XML in their Word program. Well, they filed an appeal, and today it was denied. Not good. Word 2010 doesn’t have the infringing code, however. So, that makes a good case for getting that release out the door ASAP.

The technology in question involves “any Microsoft Word products that have the capability of opening .XML, .DOCX or DOCM files (XML files) containing custom XML,” according to a copy of the injunction released in August. I4i’s Owen said at the time that his company wasn’t out to force a halt in sales of one of Microsoft’s most profitable products, and it doesn’t appear that will happen.

Microsoft Office 2010 has a new sandbox feature for those times when you download a questionable file from someone. This is supposed to greatly reduce malware infections through a commonly used exploit in Office applications. Great job, Microsoft for finally trying to put a stop to those that are using Office files to spread their malware.

The feature, called “Office file validation,” checks to see if a binary file used by Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel (with .DOC, .PPT and .XLS extensions) is a trusted document or stored in a trusted location. If not, the file will get protected in a sandbox, or “protected view,” which will limit the file’s access to system resources, according to David B. Heise, a member of Microsoft’s Office security team, in a Wednesday blog post.

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Microsoft has said that they have had fewer phone calls into their technical support since the release of Windows 7 than before. While it sounds great, it is in part due to Microsoft putting some of the burden on the Microsoft Answers website and their own Twitter. They have also put it on to a few of us website owners, as well. With more sites doing free support for Windows (I do, to an extent!), it just makes it easier to find and get support for small issues.

The drop in calls isn’t just due to the fact that Windows 7 appears less problem-plagued than its predecessor, though. In the weeks leading up to and following the operating system’s release, Microsoft also added two new ways to get help–through an online forum called Microsoft Answers and via the Microsoft Helps feed on Twitter.

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Well, here is a story that’s not too positive for Microsoft. Apparently, in India, Microsoft has went to suing pirates of their software. Unfortunately, they filed the lawsuits in the capital of the country, forcing the pirates to drive hundreds of miles from their towns of residence to battle the piracy claims. Well, the court claims that it isn’t right. While, I’m don’t agree with piracy, I don’t think that two wrongs equal a right. There is a right way to go after pirates… And that wasn’t it.

According to the Court, Microsoft is needlessly abusing its unlimited cash flow as a power tool to financially hurt the defendants, who will have to travel all across the country in order to defend themselves. This abuse of