Microsoft XML patent opposed

South African free software advocates have served patent "request to surrender" papers on representatives of software giant Microsoft, urging it to withdraw a patent it has registered in New Zealand.

The patent, titled "Word processing document stored in a single XML file that may be manipulated by applications that understand XML", suggests that Microsoft invented and owns the process of XML-based word processing.

The XML software standard allows computer programs and websites to automatically share data and other content.

Microsoft applied for the patent in South Africa in April last year and it was granted two months later.

Its application was also granted in NZ, but rejected in the US.

- NZPA