Z:gnu-www-ja-microsoft-new-monopoly--4981a7-Microsoft's patent covering th/en

Microsoft's patent covering the new Word format is a US patent. It doesn't restrict anyone in Europe; Europeans are free to make and use software that can read this format. Europeans that develop or use software currently enjoy an advantage over Americans: Americans can be sued for patent infringement for their software activities in the US, but the Europeans cannot be sued for their activities in Europe. Europeans can already get US software patents and sue Americans, but Americans cannot get European software patents if Europe doesn't allow them.