Judge to Microsoft: Show us your systems

A Baltimore federal judge has asked Microsoft to search its own computers and archives for information that could help explain a top executive's instructions to destroy old emails.

District Judge J Frederick Motz ordered the company on Thursday to interview attorneys and search for any record of discussions leading to a January 2000 email from Windows Group VP James Allchin in which he ordered Windows division employees to destroy emails after 30 days.

An attorney for start-up Burst.com, which is suing the software giant for patent infringement, said Allchin's email and previous company policies seemed to be aimed at destroying evidence that could be used against Microsoft by the US Department of Justice or in other litigation. Microsoft has argued in court that some email deletion policies were set by its internal IT department.

"There is no way an IT person decided to drop email from retention," Burst.com attorney Spencer Hosie said. "There is no way that wasn't discussed at the highest level."

Microsoft opponents have routinely used the software maker's own internal emails against it in the course of antitrust and other lawsuits, often to embarrassing effect. A standard Microsoft policy on email destruction could ultimately affect companies beyond Burst.com, such as RealNetworks, which are pursuing separate lawsuits.

Last year, Motz ordered Microsoft to search for evidence of deleted company emails that might refer to Burst.com. The Santa Rosa, California-based company contends that Microsoft stole its patented audio and video download technology for its digital media software, Windows Media 9. It has claimed that considerable numbers of relevant Microsoft emails were missing from the court record.

Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler said that the company has been diligent in providing more than a half-million documents to the court in Burst.com's case but would also comply with Motz's latest request.

"We think [the issue of Allchin's email] was raised out of context by Burst, and the judge has some questions on it," Desler said. "We hope to provide the court with information that... can provide a more accurate picture of the context."

John Borland writes for CNET News.com.