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Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: E_K_S who wrote (6118)	12/11/1997 7:31:00 PM
From: cheryl williamson	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 64865

Eric, My understanding is that the judge found that the Justice Dept. had not proved its claim that MSFT violated the consent decree, but that there was a strong likelihood that they would be able to do so in the future. Therefore he issued the Temporary Restraining Order barring MSFT from bundling IE with Windows 95 or any subsequent version of Windows. This means that they still could be found in contempt and fined. However, while the facts of the case are being debated by both sides, MSFT can't bundle IE. This sounds to me like a strong action against MSFT, not a split- decision. cheers, cherylw

To: E_K_S who wrote (6118)	12/12/1997 3:38:00 AM
From: Kashish King	Respond to of 64865

I don't see any split here. What I see is a decision that says we aren't going to punish you until we have finished demonstrating your guilt, but rest assured that we will demonstrate that. The money was irrelevant anyway. Now the door is open for Netscape but it remains to be seen whether they actually do understand the need for ubiquity at any cost. They should be giving away the browser and selling add-ons and server products. They can look to AOL for lessons on how that seemingly suicidal effort can pay off. They must also make hay out of Microsoft's refusal to cooperate with the 100% Java standard and get in line with the standard ASAP. They can then use that against Microsoft.