Microsoft seeks delay for hearings
The software powerhouse asks the federal judge overseeing its antitrust case for a two-week postponement of hearings due to start next week on sanctions against the company.
In a filing with U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, Microsoft said it needed the extra time to weigh a revised remedy proposal filed Monday by a group of nine states that have rejected a settlement of the case.
Microsoft said the revision came without warning after Microsoft had already interviewed all but one of the non-settling states' witnesses in preparation for the hearings.
The software giant reached the settlement deal with the U.S. Justice Department in November after an appeals court in June upheld a lower court conclusion that Microsoft had used illegal tactics to maintain its Windows monopoly.
While nine of the 18 states in the lawsuit agreed to sign on to the settlement, another nine, including California, Massachusetts and Connecticut, are still pursuing the case, saying the settlement is too weak.
Last week, Microsoft and the Justice Department revised their proposed settlement to close some perceived loopholes.
On Monday the non-settling states tweaked their tougher sanctions to answer criticisms they could create confusion in the computer industry.
A hearing on whether the proposed settlement is in the public interest starts Wednesday before Kollar-Kotelly.
She has scheduled separate proceedings starting Monday on the states' demands for tougher sanctions to prevent future antitrust violations.
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