In pre-trial rulings, Polk County District Court Judge Scott Rosenberg has thrown out the "loss of innovation" damage claim alleged against Microsoft .  Plaintiffs’ counsel, Roxanne Conlin, had alleged that Microsoft’s market dominance prevented other software companies from developing products that competed with Microsoft’s web browser Internet Explorer and other Microsoft products.

The Judge sided with the plaintiffs’ on seven other pre-trial motions but the ruling on the loss of innovation theory appears to be a significant blow to the plaintiffs’ case.

Thanks to Des Moines Patent Attorney Brett Trout for the heads up.

See also a Des Moines Register article on the ruling.