Microsoft resists US order to turn over emails held overseas

A judge lifted a suspension on her order directing Microsoft Corp to turn over a customer's emails stored overseas to US prosecutors, but the software company said it would not release any emails while it appeals against the ruling.

Chief Judge Loretta Preska of the US District Court in Manhattan had on July 31 upheld a magistrate judge's ruling on the emails, which have been held in a data centre in Ireland. That prospect had drawn concern from technology companies - fearful of losing revenue from foreign customers worried that US law enforcement might win broad power to seize their data.

Preska had delayed enforcement of the government's search warrant so Microsoft could appeal.

But prosecutors later said that because her order was not a "final, appealable order" and because Microsoft had yet to be held in contempt, there was no legal reason to enforce the stay.

Preska agreed, saying her order "merely confirmed the government's temporary forbearing of its right to stay enforcement of the order it secured".

She added that "the fact the court has not closed this case cuts against Microsoft's argument" that her order was final and appealable.