Microsoft squeezed for antitrust settlement violations

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 8 Jul 2003 at 12:16

Massachusetts, the remaining state to still find last November's antitrust settlement between the DoJ and Microsoft unacceptable, says it is looking into possible breaches of the software company's obligations.

In an eight-page filing, Massachusetts' attorney general Thomas Reilly, said investigations were being made into 'several issues related to potential enforcement of the decree.' In particular, whether Microsoft had violated terms of the settlement by adopting retaliatory actions against an unnamed computer maker that had been offering Linux as an alternative to Windows.

It also said it was examining whether the company's IP licensing program was being offered in accordance with the settlement.

Last week, the DoJ and a number of states submitted a report saying they were concerned whether the program was meeting its aims to 'license certain Communications Protocols on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms' and 'in a timely manner' - in fact within three months of the settlement - and for the purpose of 'unfettering the market and restoring competition'. The group said it was concerned that Microsoft was dallying and that terms of access to the program were restrictive and costly.