A total of 34 US states have opposed a motion by Microsoft that
the company hopes will dismiss an antitrust action being pursued by
nine US states plus the District of Columbia. The company argues
that only the Justice Department should have jurisdiction in such
questions of antitrust law. The Justice Department and another nine
states have already agreed settlement terms with Microsoft. The
parties are waiting to hear whether or not the court will approve
these terms.
Today, the nine litigating states and the District of Columbia
will argue in court for stronger penalties against Bill Gates’
software empire. On Friday, they were supported by 25 other states
in arguing that they should have authority to continue an antitrust
case even if the federal government elects to settle.
Microsoft says that the continued litigation by nine states
causes “conflicting national competition policy.”
