Microsoft’s antitrust case, which began in 1998, yesterday heard
closing arguments from both sides. US District Judge Colleen
Kollar-Kotelly had asked Microsoft and the nine US states with
which it has failed to reach any settlement to narrow their
demands. Microsoft refused.
Lawyers for the nine states called for tough penalties to
control what they see as Microsoft’s “thuggish” tactics in the
market. Microsoft described the states’ proposals, which include
revealing its source code to rivals, as “truly disastrous.”
Judge Kollar-Kotelly is expected to make her decision late
summer 2002. She must decide whether to approve the settlement deal
reached among Microsoft, the Department of Justice and another nine
states, or impose the sanctions sought by the pursuing states, or
find a middle ground.
