Sun Microsystems claimed an early victory Monday in its $1 billion antitrust suit to get Microsoft to distribute Java as part of Windows. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz granted Sun a preliminary injunction that forces Microsoft to carry Java. The preliminary injunction is expected remain in effect while both companies present their cases at trial.

"The court granted both Sun's copyright-infringement and Java must-carry motions for preliminary injunction," Sun said in a statement. Sun says the decision helps "ensure that current, compatible Java technology will be included on every consumer desktop and put an end to Microsoft's practice of fragmenting the Java platform."

The preliminary injunctions Sun sought are intended to address damage claimed by the company until an antitrust trial can be convened. That trial would include all antitrust claims that Sun has brought against Microsoft.

A Microsoft spokesman says the company is disappointed with the ruling but would refrain from further comment until it has reviewed the details. He adds that Microsoft might also appeal Motz's decision.

Sun's antitrust lawsuit is one of several before Motz that have been filed in the wake of Microsoft's long-running antitrust fight with the government. Sun filed its antitrust lawsuit in March, after a federal appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling in the government case that Microsoft had broken U.S. antitrust laws and illegally maintained its monopoly in PC operating systems.