DECEMBER 23, 2005
(IDG NEWS SERVICE) -
Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc. have resolved their legal differences over
Google's hiring of former Microsoft executive Kai-Fu Lee, Microsoft announced
late yesterday.
In a statement, Microsoft said, "The parties have entered into
a private agreement that resolves all issues to their mutual satisfaction. The
terms of the agreement are confidential and all parties have agreed to make no
other statements to the media regarding it."
Google representatives could not immediately be reached to
confirm the settlement.
Microsoft sued Google earlier this year after Lee joined
Google in order to run the search engine company's research and development labs
in China. Microsoft tried to enforce the terms of a noncompete agreement that
Lee had signed upon joining the company in 2000, which would prohibit Lee from
working on search-related activities for a competitor. The companies were
scheduled to meet in court in early January to argue the case.
