Microsoft attempts secret settlement with Feds?

Mike McCune wrote in to tell us that news.com has an article that says that Three weeks ago, Microsoft had secret meetings with DOJ in attempt to settle case. Here's a WSJ story that requires a subscription, but has more details. Not much data there tho. They still expect a resolution before the end of the year.

Comments

Stop moderating this post up!!!

[Fizgig]

It's illegal and can only serve to get Slashdot in trouble. The least we can do is demote it.

Re:Microsoft wants out.

[dmorin]

Microsoft hasn't settled yet because they walked into the trial thinking that they were better and more powerful than the government. Remember the exchange in which Jackson ordered them to remove IE from Windows, so they proceeded to produce a crippled version of Windows? Jackson said "Are you standing here telling me that you assumed I was ordering you to produce a product that doesn't work?" and the MS guy said "Yes."

That original agreement, what was it 94 or something, demonstrated that MS completely screwed the Feds and the customers and produced a "settlement" that continued to give MS exactly what it wanted. They likely started this trial assuming they'd get to do the same thing -- there were talks of early settlements. Sounds like the government has done much, much better this time around.

(It also helps that MS shot itself in the foot numerous times, and that Boies has done a great job destroying every witness MS has presented.)