Microsoft ordered to remove 'Java Compatible' logo

A federal judge ordered Microsoft to remove the ``Java-compatible'' logo from two of its products yesterday while the lawsuit brought by Sun Microsystems against the software giant proceeds.

According to a Microsoft spokesman, U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte issued the injunction against Microsoft after a hearing on the issue last month.

The ruling affects Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser and Java software developers kit, both of which had been promoted as ``Java-compatible'' under a license arrangement with Sun. Sun requested the injunction as part of its lawsuit charging that Microsoft has broken its license agreement by shipping versions of the Java technology that are incompatible with its standards.

``We will immediately comply with the court's order, but we remain confident that once all the facts are presented in the larger case, the court will find Microsoft to be in full compliance,'' Microsoft associate general counsel Tom Burt said in a statement. ``We are disappointed by the court's decision, and we believe that Microsoft has been in full compliance with our contract with Sun.''

The spokesman said Microsoft had not yet decided whether it will appeal the ruling.