************ http://cgi.pathfinder.com/netly/afternoon/0,1012,1616,00.html Microsoft vs. DOJ Update Microsoft finally had its day (or at least two hours) in court this afternoon. Its team of lawyers tried to fend off accusations that Microsoft unfairly used its operating system's popularity to force-feed Internet Explorer to computer makers. Federal judge Thomas Penfield Jackson zeroed in on whether or not the browser is, in fact, part of Windows 95. "Are you not selling Windows 95 and Internet Explorer separately?" he asked. Not to computer manufacturers, carefully replied Microsoft's attorney, who said that the evidence proves the two products "obviously are" integrated. (For the judge to rule that Microsoft is violating a 1995 agreement, Justice Department lawyers first have to convince him that Internet Explorer and Windows 95 are two seperate products, which they tried to do today by waving around a shrinkwrapped copy of Internet Explorer 4.0.) The hearing in Washington, D.C., federal district court highlighted two wildly different views: Microsoft claims the Justice Department is picking a fight where none really should exist. But the government's antitrust lawyers said today they're fighting to stop the world's largest software company from "misusing its Windows power" to squash its competitors. Both sides are going to have to wait a while: Judge Jackson left the courtroom today without ruling on the case. --By Declan McCullagh/Washington