Microsoft case could reach Supreme Court next year

A little known law could propel the Microsoft anti-trust case straight past the Court of Appeals and into the Supreme Courts as soon as autumn next year.

As the case between the US government and the software giant rumbles on, speculation is rife that the District Court Judge could cut out the appellate stage of the process.

Under US law, any District Court Judge hearing an anti-trust case has the power to take the case straight to the Supreme Court if it is of "general public importance in the administration of justice".

Pundits had expected the case not the reach the high court until at least 2000, but sources claim Judge Penfield Jackson is anxious to conclude the case as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, one of Microsoft's greatest allies is preparing to take the stand for the prosecution. Steven McGeady, vice president at Intel, is expected to testify about discussions that took place during an alleged meeting held in 1995.

The companies are said to have clashed over Intel's plans to develop Native Signal Processing to run multimedia and communications software using Intel rather than Microsoft code. However, the technology was incompatible with Windows 95 and the plans were dropped.
Intel's CEO Andy Grove was later quoted in Fortune Magazine as saying the company bowed to pressure from the software giant.

Intel has refused to comment while the case is still ongoing.