Judge: Demonstration of 'Modular' Windows
Reuters | at | by Mike
The federal judge overseeing the Microsoft Corp. antitrust case said on Tuesday that she wants to see a version of the Windows operating system that has removable features. Over the objections of Microsoft, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said she would allow nine states seeking stiff sanctions against the company to have a computer expert demonstrate a version of Windows he has developed that can be customized. Kollar-Kotelly scheduled the presentation for May 15.
Microsoft attorneys strongly objected, saying the states should have brought Bach into the case earlier when they were presenting their initial case. Kollar-Kotelly agreed in part. She said the states' attorneys hired Bach in February, but had made a "tactical decision" not to call him earlier in the case. But the judge said it was important to hear from someone who had actually "sat down and tried" to create a version of Windows that could be customized. "I'm going to allow Mr. Bach's testimony primarily for the reason that I think the information should be presented to the court," Kollar-Kotelly said. "I should have it."