Sales can go on until hearing, says court.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has granted an injunction to Microsoft allowing the firm to continue to sell Word until the appeal against its case with i4i is resolved.

Microsoft was due to stop selling Word by court order next Friday but the injunction will mean that Microsoft and original equipment makers will still be able to sell the software.

Dell and HP had filed briefs supporting the extension allowing Microsoft to sell the application, saying that a ban would severely disrupt their businesses.

"We are happy with the result and look forward to presenting our arguments on the main issues on 23 September," Microsoft spokesman Kevin Kutz said in a statement.

In August a Texas court ruled that Microsoft was in breach of a patent held by i4i over its use of XML in Word 2003 and 2007. The court fined Microsoft $290 million ($A341 million) and told it to stop selling the software within 60 days.