The court overseeing the Microsoft antitrust trial has revealed it is set to deliver long-awaited rulings.
The US District Court for the District of Columbia made the announcement in a notice posted on its website.
The judge will decide whether to approve a controversial settlement between the software maker and the Justice Department.
Judge Kollar-Kotelly is expected to announce whether she endorses the harsher penalties sought by nine state attorneys dissatisfied with the settlement.
Many trial observers say the length of time the court has taken to reach a decision might suggest she was leaning toward rejecting the settlement.
Microsoft was found to have violated US antitrust laws for illegally maintaining its monopoly over computer software operating systems.
The settlement would prevent Microsoft from participating in exclusive deals that could hurt competitors, and allow manufacturers and customers to remove icons for some Microsoft features from the desktop.
It would also require the company to release technical data that enables software developers to write programs that work as seamlessly as Microsoft products on the Windows operating system. Microsoft has already begun following some portions of the settlement.
PA