BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: It is quite possibly just a maneuver to delay a final judgment, but since Microsoft is just days away from filing counter arguments to keep a federal court from splitting up the company, as CNN's Steve Young reports, one of the proposals the company is making will give it more time to make even more arguments.</s>STEVE YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Microsoft's reply to the government's proposal to break up the company and end its predatory monopolistic business practices is likely to include a request for a half year delay in the landmark antitrust trial. The company has to file its response with the federal judge by Wednesday. And the only official comment, a Microsoft spokesman says -- quote -- "We are still developing our proposals." But the source tells CNNFN, the company may propose a so-called "mechanism for judging competitor's complaints that Windows interfaces are not properly documented, allow computer makers more freedom to decide which software and partners to feature on the Windows desktop, request a range of trial delays before Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson enters his final judgment." The company is believed ready to move to that stage in a few weeks to a month or two if the remedy is limited to changes in Microsoft's business practices. But it would want six months to gather evidence for counter arguments if the judge does consider splitting the company in two. (on camera): None of the state attorneys general who joined in the federal suit will comment for the record. But one said,"I imagine the judge will want more from the company than they seem to be saying that they'll do." Steve Young, CNN Financial News, New York.
Microsoft Likely to Request Half-Year Delay in Antitrust Trial