Microsoft faces more than just the DOJ zdnet.com
Right, who cares about wimpy Janet Reno when you're up against the unholy Ilk Conspiracy.
As the Redmond, Wash., company responds in court next week to charges from both Sun Microsystems Inc. and the U.S. Department of Justice, nine other lawsuits await Microsoft from within the U.S. and abroad.
A half-dozen states are currently conducting separate
investigations into Microsoft's licensing practices to determine whether they are anti-competitive.
...
Meanwhile, Sun's case will heat up next week as Microsoft is required to respond in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., to charges that it violated Sun's Java trademarks, broke its contract and induced others to breach their Java license. Sun first filed suit against Microsoft on Oct. 7.
Internationally, Microsoft's conduct with ISPs is coming under the scrutiny of the European Commission. The Commission claims Microsoft has forced ISPs to buy other Microsoft products in addition to using Internet Explorer.
The Fair Trade Commission of Japan is looking into charges similar to those of U.S. DOJ.
If that weren't enough, the DOJ is currently conducting three other investigations against the Redmond, Wash., software company.
Under the microscope is Microsoft's $150 million investment in Apple Computer Inc.; a number of multimedia partnerships such as the company's acquisition of Vxtreme Inc. and RealNetwork Inc.'s video streaming technology; and the practice of giving Internet Explorer away for free.
DOJ officials refused to speculate on when or if it would take legal actions against Microsoft for these other areas.
Oops, looks like somebody forgot to tell DOJ that they had investigated Microsoft and found them not guilty. Sounds like the integrity and uniformity of the Windows experience is going to need a lot of defending in the months to come. The evil brotherhood of the ilk roles on.
Cheers, Dan. |
