Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on Friday told Microsoft that it
must obey a request for source code access by the nine US states
still fighting the company in the antitrust case. The states are
hoping to disprove Microsoft’s assertion that it cannot offer a
stripped-down version of its Windows operating system which does
not include middleware such as its internet browser, instant
messaging and media player software.
The parties to the case are expected to agree to terms on which
use of the source code can be made, the fear of Microsoft being
that its code somehow leaks to competitors. The code to be examined
will include its new flagship product, Windows XP.
