Seattle Judge Steven Gonzalez ruled Tuesday that former Microsoft exec Kai-Fu Lee can immediately start helping Google build its China office, but that his job responsibilities can't include working
on search until at least January, when the case is set for trial. Google in July hired Lee from Microsoft, prompting Microsoft to file a lawsuit charging that Lee violated a contractual agreement to
refrain from doing work for competitors similar to what he performed at Microsoft for at least one year after leaving the company. Gonzalez last month barred Lee from doing any work at Microsoft, but
yesterday he decided that Lee could recruit for Google in China.
