Google was hoping to knock the stilts out from under Microsoft and get Microsoft's case against it and its hireling, ex-Microsoft VP Kai-Fu Lee, moved to California, where it fully expected the California court to throw out Lee's signed non-compete because California doesn't recognize non-competes.

Except, before he heard any arguments last Friday, California federal judge Ronald Whyte tentatively sent the case back to the state of Washington, where Microsoft lodged it and where it's gotten a temporary restraining order restricting Lee's activities on behalf of Google until the trial in January.

Lee was hired to set up and run Google China.

Judge Whyte indicated he found both sides of the argument persuasive. The companies were still waiting for his final decision at press time.

(This is an abridged version of a story that appeared originally at www.clientservernews.com.)