Judge Steps into Microsoft-Google Fight

A Seattle judge gave Microsoft Corp. a small victory over rival Google Inc. in a dispute over a former vice president for the software giant.

The dispute started after Internet search engine Google announced it was hiring Kai-Fu Lee from Microsoft to run its emerging Chinese operations.

Microsoft, saying such a move would violate an employment contract it had with Lee, sought a temporary injunction in state court Monday against the hiring.

Judge Steven Gonzalez decided Thursday that Lee is temporarily restrained from working on projects at Google in areas including computer search technologies and the Chinese market for them, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

The decision did not enjoin Google from actually hiring Lee or determine the outcome of Microsoft’s broader suit.