A federal court has unsealed court documents stemming from Microsoft’s challenge to an FBI National Security Letter Microsoft recieved late last year.

The FBI's letter in this case sought information about an account belonging to a Microsoft_enterprise customer.

Like all National Security Letters, this one sought only basic subscriber information.

Last_December_Microsoft committed "to notifying business and government customers when_legal orders are related to their data.

Where a gag order attempts to prohibit us from doing this, the company promised to_challenge it in court.

In this case, the Letter included a nondisclosure provision and the Redmond software giant_moved forward to challenge it in court.

Microsoft’s legal counsel concluded_that the nondisclosure provision was unlawful and violated our Constitutional right to free expression. The NDA did not allow Microsoft_to notify_enterprise customers when receive legal orders related to their data.

The FBI withdrew its letter following the legal challenge. Microsoft’s chief legal counsel Brad Smith commented: “This National Security Letter was unlawful and violated our Constitutional right to free expression.

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