Article Abstract:
Microsoft has been ordered by US District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson to relinquish a copy of the source code for its Windows 95 and Windows 98 OSes to the Justice Department. Jackson also forced Microsoft to make its chairman, William H. Gates, and 16 other executives available for unlimited pretrail depositions beginning Aug 12, 1998. Microsoft objected strongly to Jackson's ruling on behalf of the Government prior to the antitrust trial scheduled to begin on Sep 8, 1998. The company had sought to shorten Gates's testimony to eight hours and present seven other executives for interviews. Another Microsoft condition would have made it difficult for outside experts to analyze the source code on behalf of the Government. The Justice Department contends the source code will help it demonstrate that Microsoft is improperly bundling its Internet Explorer Web browser with Windows to injure Netscape, its primary Web browser rival.
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Article Abstract:
Microsoft and the Justice Department faced tough questioning from Federal appeals court judges in an Apr 21, 1998, Washington hearing on whether Microsoft forced computer manufacturers to accept its Internet Explorer browser software as a prerequisite for licensing its Windows 95 OS. Microsoft is appealing a judge's preliminary ruling in Dec 1997 that forces the company to sell a Windows 95 version that does not include the browsing capabilities. Neither side received a clear indication on how the judges might rule on the appeal, but Judge Patricia M. Wald said Microsoft's imminent release of its Windows 98 OS may make the case irrelevant. Most new PCs sold will contain Windows 98 as a standard feature, which will for all intents and purposes eliminate the Windows 95 market. The Justice Department is suing Microsoft for allegedly violating a 1995 consent decree.
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Article Abstract:
Antitrust negotiations between Microsoft and Justice Department and state Attorneys General reached an impasse, apparently after Microsoft Chmn William H. Gates instructed attorneys to retract earlier concessions. Both the Justice Department and 20 state Attorneys General said they plan to file suits against Microsoft on May 18, 1998. The states involved could withhold their action if Microsoft extended important new concessions before the deadline, according to a senior representative of the state Attorneys General, while the Justice Department does not anticipate resuming discussions. Microsoft, which claimed the Government's illegal position would have compromised its innovation, said it would begin shipping its Windows 98 OS to computer manufacturers on May 18, 1998.
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