Microsoft E-Mail Fight With U.S. May Be Headed to Top Court

By Bob Van Voris, Bloomberg News

Microsoft Corp.’s fight with the U.S. government about access to e-mails stored in Ireland may be headed to the nation’s top court after a divided federal appeals court refused to reconsider a decision shielding the company from a demand to provide data in a drug investigation.

The appeals court split 4-4 Tuesday on whether the entire court should rehear the case, increasing the likelihood the U.S. Supreme Court will take it on. It also raises the possibility it may set a legal standard for data security throughout the technology industry.

In July, a three-judge ...