The Supreme Court's refusal to order a quick decision means a breakup may not just be delayed, but averted.
All bets are now on the giant staying in one piece.
The case was sent instead to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, effectively delaying a final decision in the case for as long as two years. Time is traditionally a monopolist's best friend. Whether or not the appellate court agrees that the company illegally used monopoly power over PC operating systems, changes in the market and technologies could make today's remedy outdated by 2002. Microsoft is making the most of this breathing room to get back to business. The initial verdict raised doubts about how much of a commitment prospective partners could afford to make.