The nine states holding out against the proposed settlement of the landmark Microsoft antitrust case on Monday asked a federal judge to reject the software company's request to delay remedy hearings. Earlier this month, Microsoft argued that because of the gravity of the remedy nine states are asking for, the company should get more preparation time. But the nine states told U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Monday's filing that Microsoft's arguments were an unnecessary delay. "This motion is little more than a recycling of Microsoft's previously rejected arguments for delay," the states said in their filing. The states added: "It is no surprise that Microsoft would like to continue to delay the proceeding that most threatens to deprive it of the ability to engage in the practices condemned as unlawful by the Court of Appeals."

Microsoft retorted that it can hardly be accused of delay. "We are already implementing a tough settlement that goes beyond the liability found by the Appeals Court," said Jim Desler, a company spokesman. "Any delay is the fault of the non-settling states, who have gone far beyond the legitimate scope of this remedy phase and have, in essence, launched an entirely new case against the company." The company on Monday said it continued to believe that changing the current scheduling order is appropriate.