Microsoft gets some good news as antitrust trial rumbles on

Microsoft has received some good news in its seemingly endless antitrust trial, with a federal judge ordering the Department of Justice to comment on the company's motion to dismiss the case of the nine states opposing the settlement.

Microsoft reached an agreement with some US states and the Justice Department last year, but the nine decided to pursue the case, believing the punishment meted out to Microsoft was insufficient.

But Microsoft wants their case thrown out on the grounds that individual states should not have national jurisdiction in such matters.

If the judge decides to back Microsoft's motion, the trial could be brought to an end - once and for all.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has accused one of the key witnesses in the ongoing trial of bias.

One of the company's lawyers claimed that the testimony of Steven McGeady, a former Intel executive, should be ignored because he "personally detested" the software giant. He apparently referred to Microsoft as an "evil corporation" in a magazine interview.

But McGeady defended his actions, stating that he had simply tried to portray Microsoft's corporate culture and business practices as not being "aligned" to a company of its stature.

He said: "I am quoted as saying all sorts of things that probably should have gotten my mouth washed out with soap."