Novell loses appeal in case against Microsoft

• Novell alleged Microsoft undermined WordPerfect writing software
• 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday Novell has no viable claims in case
• Two years ago%2C Utah company lost eight-week trial against Microsoft

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal appeals court is throwing out Novell's complaint that Microsoft undermined the WordPerfect writing program in favor of Microsoft's own Word program with the Windows 95 rollout.

The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that Novell has no viable claims left after the Utah company lost an eight-week trial against Microsoft in Salt Lake City two years ago.

The case was so important to Microsoft that it put co-founder Bill Gates on the stand for two days, saying he had no idea a last-minute decision to drop a tool for outside developers would sidetrack Novell.

Novell says the decision cost it time and market share, and that it was forced to sell WordPerfect for a $1.2 billion loss.

The 10th Circuit ruled that Novell's complaint came too late and it failed to make the larger case that Microsoft was protecting a monopoly on operating systems.