Decision in Microsoft Corp. case could be delayed

WASHINGTON—The penalty phase of the Microsoft Corp. antitrust case could extend beyond the Oct. 25 scheduled release date of Microsoft’s Windows XP.
In her first order since being assigned the case, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly asked the government and Microsoft to seek agreement on the remaining issues in the case by Sept. 14. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21. Following the hearing, the two sides would conduct discovery and then another hearing would be held before Judge Kollar-Kotelly rules on what remedies need to be taken to break Microsoft’s monopoly.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said earlier this year that Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson was biased and could not make a fair ruling when he decided to break-up Microsoft. The appeals court sent the case back to district court to come up with a different remedy than breaking the company in two.
Microsoft is appealing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.