A Federal judge overseeing the Microsoft anti-trust trial here has pushed back the start of proceedings to October 15. Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson took the step after the software giant and the US justice department, which is suing Microsoft, agreed that "more time is needed to ensure that the judge has all the facts", court sources told AFP.Originally scheduled to begin on September 8, the trial had been set for September 23 after delays in getting sworn testimony including that of Microsoft chief Bill Gates.
The delay was prompted by media efforts to get public access to the testimony. The last hearing before the start of the trial now is set for October 9, court sources said.
The federal government and 20 states filed an extensive lawsuit on May 18 accusing Microsoft to anti-competitive practices. The suit accuses the software major of extending its power over personal computer systems with its internet application programme.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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