WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp. has pledged to expand legal training for employees and broaden its internal reviews of industry agreements to be sure the company doesn't violate its antitrust settlement with the government.

Microsoft's decision, disclosed in court papers, responds to criticism last month from the federal judge overseeing Microsoft's business practices under the agreement. She was upset over a proposal by Microsoft -- unlawful under the settlement -- to force manufacturers to tether iPod-like devices to Microsoft's own music player software.

Microsoft abandoned the idea after a competitor protested, and it later blamed the flap on a newly hired "lower-level business person" it said did not understand the company's obligations under the antitrust settlement with the Justice Department. The agreement constrains Microsoft's business practices through late 2007.

Microsoft, which has about 61,000 employees, said it will expand legal training to include employees of corporate divisions responsible for portable music players and its Xbox video game consoles. The new training for those employees begins Dec. 8.

Microsoft also said it will more closely review agreements those divisions make with outside companies.

Microsoft's proposal, part of a marketing campaign known as "easy start," would have affected portable music devices that compete with Apple Computer Inc.'s popular iPod. It would have precluded makers of those devices from distributing to consumers music software other than Microsoft's own Windows Media Player, in exchange for Microsoft-supplied CDs.