Because Google wasn't a plaintiff in Microsoft's U.S. antitrust trial, the court must give the company the go-ahead to participate in the case before its position on Windows Vista's desktop search tool -- and its request to extend Microsoft's antitrust oversight -- can be formally considered.

In a filing late today (PDF, 7 pages) Microsoft argued that Google shouldn't be granted that standing. From the filing:

"Google's attempt to inject itself into this proceeding, particularly when there is no pending issue requiring a decision by the Court, is tantamount to a request by Google for direct access to enforcement of the Final Judgments. As such, it circumvents the enforcement procedure whereby the Plaintiffs have 'exclusive responsibility' for enforcing the Final Judgments. ...

"The description of the so-called Google complaint and its resolution does not warrant some special dispensation to Google. No other complainant has been allowed to bring its complaint directly to the Court. Google should not be permitted to create an issue where none exists."

See this earlier post for details of Google's filing and its position.