Antitrust Squabbles

Microsoft Corp. accused government lawyers of seeking to curb the company’s ability to appeal a breakup order, as both sides continued sparring over the ground rules for the next phase in the 2-year-old antitrust case. Microsoft is requesting a five-month briefing schedule that would mean an appellate hearing no earlier than March, while the Justice Department and 19 states want a January argument session. The two sides also are squabbling over the word limits for their legal filings. Although procedural, the skirmishing will give the seven judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit their first chance to align themselves. A decision on the procedural issues could come any day.