[Am-info] Judge squelches case against Microsoft

[Mitch Stone]

Has anyone ever heard of the "American Antitrust Institute?" Their web 
site:

http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/index.cfm

... does not say how they are funded, except to say are supported by the 
"Network for Good." Well, a "network for good" can hardly be bad, but who 
the heck are they?

   Mitch Stone
   mitch@accidentalexpert.com

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http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/cn/20020221/tc/judge_squelches_case_against_microsoft_1.
html

Thursday February 21 12:00 PM EST

Judge squelches case against Microsoft

By Margaret Kane CNET News.com

The federal judge overseeing the Microsoft antitrust settlement has ruled 
against a nonprofit group that had sought to block the deal.

The American Antitrust Institute  filed the suit in January, alleging that 
Microsoft and the U.S. Justice Department (news - web sites) violated 
federal law by not properly disclosing all information and communications 
related to settlement negotiations. Microsoft, the Justice Department and 
nine states suing the software maker reached an  agreement in November.

The AAI suit alleged violations of the Tunney Act, which requires that 
companies settling antitrust charges reveal all related lobbying and 
government communications.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled Wednesday that the group 
did not have any standing to file the suit. She did say, however, that she 
would not approve any settlement unless there was sufficient disclosure.

The Microsoft antitrust case (news - web sites) has been percolating in 
recent days, as the various parties get ready for new hearings in early 
March.

In addition to matters related to the Justice Department settlement, nine 
states that were part of the original case are pressing forward with 
litigation against the company. Those states most recently have charged 
that Microsoft has used the proposed settlement to impose harsh terms on 
computer makers that use its software.

The judge also told Microsoft that it must  reveal parts of the source 
code for its Windows operating systems to the litigating states.