Judge questions Microsoft project delays - Computerworld

Judge questions Microsoft project delays - Computerworld: "News Story by Grant Gross

OCTOBER 26, 2005 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - A U.S. District Court judge monitoring Microsoft Corp.'s antitrust settlement with the U.S. government scolded company lawyers today because the company recently announced a lengthy delay in a project to improve technical documentation for its communications protocols.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia questioned why Microsoft has pushed back the completion date of one of two technical documentation projects announced in February from early 2006 to October 2006 or later. The two projects were intended to help Microsoft comply with the judge's order to share proprietary communications protocols, part of the settlement Kollar-Kotelly approved in late 2002.

'If it's an issue of resources, then put them in,' Kollar-Kotelly told Microsoft lawyers during an antitrust compliance hearing. 'Do what it takes to get it done.'

The judge also questioned why Microsoft had proposed to portable music player manufacturers that if they shipped Windows Media Player in their software packages, they could include only it and no competing media software. The exclusive proposal, made during the past three months, violates the antitrust settlement, Kollar-Kotelly said.

'This should not be happening at this point in the decree,' Kollar-Kotelly said. 'I realize people make mistakes, but this should not be happening.'"