This week The Irish Times had planned to join 150 international press colleagues in Seattle, where Microsoft's Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer would provide an update on its "vision, strategy and technology road map".

However, at the last minute the event was deferred until later in the month. The reason: Microsoft felt strong indications that the US District Court in Washington may publish its final decree this week on the advised break-up course for the company and that this might distract attention from the event.

Microsoft's understanding of what makes a good story is obviously poles apart from that of the Margin.

It would have thought accommodating several hundred US and international media on its doorstep, as it approaches the finale of the biggest story of its career, would have greatly focused the attention of the world's press.

But then again, given the tenor of the judge in the case, maybe the last people the Microsoft executives would wish to see at such a time was the world's media.