The 18 states in the Microsoft Corp. antitrust case said on Tuesday they were split over backing a settlement of the three-year-old legal battle. One third were opposed to the deal reached last week between the company and the U.S. Justice Department, and another third were prepared to sign it after some minor changes. The remainder were undecided and were granted until later Tuesday to make up their minds. "Those (opposing) states are very troubled by the agreement, even in the (latest) version," Brendan Sullivan, attorney representing the states, told U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. But Microsoft said there was no point in further negotiation. "The issues in this case have been beaten to death," attorney John Warden said on behalf of the company.
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