Microsoft questions behavioural remedies

The giant won't want to play by someone else's rules...

Microsoft is drafting a settlement agreement with the US government in its anti-trust case - the first sign of reconciliation with the US Department of Justice in two years. The attempt to reach an amicable agreement is in response to the decision last week by the Appeals court not to carry out a threat to break-up the company. The government is currently drawing up a list of behavioural remedies to take the place of the break-up. However, Microsoft is likely to fight these proposals and push for adoption of its own rules, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper claimed the US government is expected to impose rules that allow PC vendors to choose from rival software products on the market when they licence Microsoft Windows operating system rather than be forced to take on the whole product. This could see PC vendors such as Dell or HP choosing AOL's instant messaging software over Microsoft's own MSN Messenger. Microsoft's effort to settle -two years ago - was rejected by the US DoJ who claimed the proposed provisions were inadequate. William Neukom, chief legal officer at Microsoft, is expected to meet government officials in Washington DC later this week to discuss the proposals.
States may pursue Microsoft on their own
http://www.silicon.com/a47242
Justice
delayed is just useless
http://www.silicon.com/a47224
Microsoft
still faces anti-trust action
http://www.silicon.com/a47219
Microsoft
escapes break-up
http://www.silicon.com/a47188