Following this week's action against Microsoft by Netscape
Communications, the Redmond company has hit back, asking a federal
judge to order its parent company AOL Time Warner to release
documents that show how it assisted the states suing Microsoft in
the antitrust case.
Netscape Communications sued this week seeking unspecified
damages in compensation for its losses during the so-called
"browser wars" which began in the mid-1990s and resulted in the
desktop supremacy of Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Netscape is
hoping to exploit the findings of the district and appeals courts
in the Justice Department's antitrust case against Microsoft.
On Wednesday, Microsoft fired back. It argues that AOL Time
Warner is refusing to co-operate with court orders for full
document production which, according to Microsoft spokesman Jim
Desler, "stands in stark contrast to their active,
behind-the-scenes involvement with the non-settling states."
Microsoft alleges that productions from AOL Time Warner fall far
short of what it expects. AOL Time Warner said many of Microsoft's
requests for documents were irrelevant, accusing its rival of
trying "to harass and burden AOL."
