With both sides claiming victory, Microsoft won a preliminary injunction against Google Inc., and Kai-Fu Lee, a ruling that prevents Lee from working on products or services related to search and speech technologies for his new employer.The ruling also forbids Lee from recruiting employees of Microsoft, the executive's former company. However, the ruling overturned an earlier decision that had prevented Lee from doing any work with Google. Lee is now permitted to begin working immediately on recruiting for the company's China operations.With both corporate giants claiming victory, labor experts noted that ultimately the real losers in the case were skilled employees. As a group, these workers may now find that legal restrictions will seriously hinder them from applying for or securing new jobs.Google has been actively recruiting talent from its high tech competitors. The company recently hired Internet pioneer Vinton Cerf away from MCI as well as Daniel Russell, a research scientist who previously worked for IBM, Apple, and Xerox. Dr. Lee, also a former Apple employee, had been hired to serve as President of the company's growing Chinese operations.The China Research and Development Center is the latest addition to a growing global presence for Google that includes engineering offices in Tokyo, Japan, Zurich, Switzerland, and Bangalore, India. Google also has state-side centers in New York City, Santa Monica and Mountain View California, and Kirkland, Washington.