Johnd, MSFT and DOJ IN TALKS TO SETTLE---Our earlier suspicions were correct.
Here is the Bloomberg story:
quote.bloomberg.com
Microsoft, U.S. Exploring Ways to Settle, Seattle Times Reports
Microsoft, U.S. Exploring Ways to Settle, Seattle Times Reports
Redmond, Washington, March 8 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. and the U.S. government are exploring ways to settle the landmark antitrust trial against the world's biggest software maker, the Seattle Times reported, citing unidentified people close to the case.
The report of possible settlement discussions comes as No. 1 chipmaker Intel Corp. settled with federal antitrust enforcers to avert a trial on charges it used its dominance in the semiconductor industry to illegally retaliate against companies that accused it of violating their patents.
Microsoft's antitrust trial is in recess until April to accommodate judge and lawyer schedules, and the six-week pause has prompted speculation that the two sides might try to resolve their dispute outside the courtroom. Intel's move today heightened that speculation. ''We would never block out the notion of a settlement,'' Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Bob Herbold said. ''We're not going to talk publicly'' about whether discussions are under way, Herbold said.
The Redmond, Washington-based company declined to comment on the Seattle Times report.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel for corporate affairs, said Intel's clash with the Federal Trade Commission was about licensing, whereas Microsoft's battle with the Justice Department and 19 states is about product integration and contracts.
Smith and Herbold said Microsoft is confident it will prevail in the trial, where it stands accused of extending its monopoly in computer operating systems to the Internet, crushing rivals such as Netscape Communications Corp. The trial began on Oct. 19 and went into recess last week. It's scheduled to resume in April.
Shares of Microsoft rose 4 1/16 to 159.
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