Microsoft Wins Antitrust Battle, War Will Continue

Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) have proposed a settlement that could end their three-and-a-half year antitrust dispute. Although the agreement was signed by only nine of the eighteen states that had joined with the DoJ as plaintiffs in the case, and could be rejected by the presiding judge, it shows that the DoJ is anxious to get this case behind it, and suggests that OEMs will emerge as the biggest winner among third parties.

Plaintiffs Divided on Settlement

Microsoft and the DoJ presented the proposed settlement to U.S District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in time to meet her Nov. 2 deadline. None of the states signed the original agreement, however, leading to several more days of round-the-clock negotiations led by court-appointed mediator Eric Green. Finally, on Nov. 6 nine of the eighteen attorneys general, representing Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin, agreed to a slightly amended version of the settlement.