Microsoft Case Proceeds

YeOldeCurmudgeon writes "This story just posted on Yahoo: Federal Judge Denies Microsoft Motion to Dismiss Antitrust Case. Microsoft's motion to dismiss the suit filed by the 9 dissenting states was denied. The judge agrees the states can sue." An article in the San Francisco Chronicle summarizes the case's current state and what's coming up next.

Comments

BTW, there's a discussion about this.

[wackybrit]

Bad form to reply to one's own post, but.. just remembered.. there's a discussion about Microsoft and possible VM strategy from today here.

Re:With .NET, What About Competition?

[Anonymous Coward]

You seem to be implying that .NET will be practically free.

The main complaint about Microsoft's current application software is the very expensive and highly redtrictive licensing agreements.

Either this will continue with .NET or Microsoft won't make any money!!!

Re:does anyone even care any more?

[fw3]

I suggest you read "Folded, Spindled, and Mutilated: Economic Analysis and U.S. Vs. IBM" by Franklin M. Fisher et. al.

IBM has it's points good and bad, however the DOJ case (brought by the Johnson administration) was severely flawed (in ways that the MS case is not at least imho).

Among other things the prosecutors made their case on the basis of the market for mainframes. In presenting their case they eliminated the sales of Digital (then the #2 manufacturerer of computing equipment). Then they *included* the sales of IBM's competition in plug-compatible into IBM's 'market share'.

This is how they came up with the '80%' supposed market share figure that was widely published and believed. There were numerous other stupidities in this case.

MS has not, and while they managed to effectively sidestep a weakly worded consent decree after the '95 case, that very disrespect for the law is a big part of why the opposition is playing hardball this time around.

First time the rumor was that Gates threatened the Clinton administration that he'd take MS offshore. As has been said in posts above this one, you can only thumb your nose at the judge for so long before she decides to flex her muscles.

MS has begun to clean up it's act and behave in ways that are required of a monopoly. If they are found guilty and then go back and try to do the same cr*p yet again I daresay they will be facing a truly PO'd judicial system.