U.S. Adds Years To Microsoft's 'Probation'

An anonymous reader writes "The U.S. Justice Department has added another two years to its agreement with Microsoft, extending the protocol licensing program that is part of the company's penance for anti-competitive activities. The organization feels Microsoft is providing documentation too slowly to its licensees." From the article: "At one time, the Justice Department and several state Attorneys General had sought a breakup of Microsoft in order to prevent it from abusing its Windows monopoly. Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson at one point ordered such a move, though his ruling was later reversed on appeal. Ultimately Microsoft settled with the Department of Justice, agreeing to far more modest restrictions, including the protocol licensing program." Relatedly, regulators have cleared Vista of anti-competitive elements. They examined the OS on concerns an added search box may have given the company a home-field advantage.

Comments

Windows is fine in one piece, TYVM.

[WereTiger]

Dear US Government, Leave Microsoft the hell alone.

I like Windows, I like IE, I prefer Google over MSN and nothing's stopping me from using it.

Microsoft products are default.. NO KIDDING, it's THEIR OS, not yours or their competitors.

If Google made an OS and integrated Google search technology would everyone cry foul? Probably not, the hypocritical zealots.

Let Microsoft include a default browser, search engine, mail client, antivirus/antispam, office suite, whatever. If there's something different I prefer I'll switch that element.

Thank-you for your consideration.