The Redmond, Wash., software giant called Charles James, the Justice Department antitrust chief, shortly before the company announced plans to ease certain license restrictions in its dominant Windows operating system. That move was separate from the private effort to restart talks, and wasn't taken in consultation with U.S. officials, those close to the case said.
Microsoft's decision to change its licensing practices last week fell far short of what the U.S. and the 18 states in the case would likely accept in any settlement, and in a joint filing with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals here Friday, the government and states asked that the case be moved urgently to a new judge for hearings on what remedy should be imposed.
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