[Am-info] Microsoft, U.S. Near Antitrust Settlement

[Dave Zapple]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21036-2001Oct31.html



                        Microsoft, U.S. Near Antitrust Settlement

                        By Jonathan Krim
                        Washington Post Staff Writer
                        Thursday, November 1, 2001; Page A01

                        Microsoft Corp. and the Justice Department have
                        agreed on the outlines of a settlement in the
                        long-running antitrust case against the software
                        maker, according to sources who have been
                        briefed on the matter.

                        The sources cautioned that the wording of the
                        agreement had not been finalized and that
                        negotiations could still break down. But there is a
                        strong push to reach a deal before the parties go
                        back into court tomorrow to report on the status
                        of the talks, sources said.

                        "They're trying to get it done by Friday," said one
                        source close to the situation.

                        Leaders of a coalition of state attorneys general
                        who also are prosecuting the case are in
                        Washington and spent much of yesterday
                        evaluating the proposal, sources said. The states
                        have taken a harder line against the company, and
                        if they agree to the settlement, it could bring a
                        sudden and remarkable end to one of the largest
                        and most contentious antitrust cases in the
                        country's history.

                        Sources familiar with the negotiations said the
                        proposed agreement would require Microsoft to
                        give computer makers more power to determine
                        how software applications are carried and
                        displayed within the Windows operating system on
                        personal computers. It also would set rules for
                        how much of the company's computer code
                        would have to be given to outside software firms
                        and would establish a technical committee to
                        review disputes about such disclosures, the sources
                        said.


-- 

Dave Zapple
Systems Analyst
Office of the Dean of Research
Georgetown University
zappled@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu