A federal judge on Wednesday approved a two-year extension of court supervision for Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, to ensure that the company meets the terms of its U.S. antitrust settlement.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said the move is necessary because of “disappointing” progress by Microsoft in helping rival software makers link with Windows-powered computers. She urged the Redmond, Wash.-based company to do all it can to speed the process.
“I want to make sure we have the resources to get things done,” the judge said in court in Washington. “I want to make sure we are not shortchanged.”
Microsoft and the Justice Department had asked the judge to continue overseeing one key provision of the 2001 settlement through November 2009.
The provision gives competitors access to the Windows source code so software can communicate smoothly with desktops powered by the Microsoft operating system.
In approving the request, Kollar-Kotelly said the provision could be extended for another three years beyond 2009, if necessary. She also asked whether the rest of the consent decree, which bars Microsoft from penalizing computer makers for promoting rival products, should also face extended supervision.
U.S. Attorney Renata Hesse said such a move isn’t needed.
The judge set a court date of Sept. 7 for the next report on Microsoft’s progress.
