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To: Brian Malloy who wrote (91906)	11/8/1999 4:23:00 PM
From: Paul Engel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 186894

Brian - Re: "their is no such thing as "late" money<ggg>. They have a price and MSFT is learning to pay for protection and favor." I guess our government has become the new MAFIA - we have to pay them for PRTOTECTION ! Paul

To: Brian Malloy who wrote (91906)	11/8/1999 4:50:00 PM
From: Burt Masnick	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 186894

States Would Pursue Microsoft Even If U.S. Quits REUTERS INDEX \| INTERNATIONAL \| BUSINESS \| TECHNOLOGY Filed at 3:57 p.m. EDT By Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) - State attorneys general said Monday they will pursue the landmark Microsoft antitrust case all the way to the Supreme Court if need be, even if it takes years and no matter who the next president or attorney general may be. A U.S. District Court judge handed down a sweeping condemnation of the software giant's business tactics last week, holding Microsoft Corp. uses monopoly power to harm consumers and competitors. The judge's ruling is one step in a case brought by the U.S. Justice Department and 19 states that could easily last beyond the end of President Clinton's term in January 2001. A new administration could pursue the case vigorously or drop it. ''If they abandon the case, then it's pretty clear what would happen -- the 19 states would continue it,'' said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who heads the state effort that runs parallel with that of the federal government. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who has also been heavily involved in the case, agreed. ''Very emphatically and unequivocally we will stay in this lawsuit as long as it takes to reach remedies that correct Microsoft's predatory business practices,'' said Blumenthal. ''Regardless of what the Department of Justice may do under another administration we're committed to stay the course,'' Blumenthal said. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has dramatically increased the political giving of his company over the past few years at the federal level. Should a Republican such as Texas Gov. George W. Bush become president, his top antitrust cop might take a look at individual cases, just as William Baxter did after starting work for President Ronald Reagan in 1981. "It's inevitable that if there's a Republican administration, they will at least review high-profile cases such as the Microsoft case, just as Baxter did in AT&T and IBM when he was the first assistant attorney general under Reagan,'' said a Republican antitrust lawyer who has long familiarity with the antitrust agencies. Baxter dropped the case against IBM and pursued the AT&T case. After a strong preliminary ruling by a federal judge, AT&T agreed to be broken up. The Reagan administration was far less active than Democratic administrations in bringing cases. Instead, the states became the center of aggressive action against such targets as insurance companies. Even during Clinton's administration, it was the states that brought tobacco companies to the bargaining table without the participation of the federal government. Any new assistant attorney general for antitrust will have to clear review by the Senate Judiciary Committee, now headed by Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch. Hatch has been a strong critic of Microsoft's business practices. Hatch, who would likely continue to head the committee if Republicans retain the Senate in 2000 and if his presidential campaign bid fails, said the judge's findings Friday were ''a significant step in a long but warranted struggle on behalf of innovation and consumers.''