Institute for Public Accuracy 915 National Press Building,
Washington, D.C. 20045 (202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * [log in to unmask] ___________________________________________________
Tuesday,
April 4, 2000
MICROSOFT DECISION
Federal Judge Thomas Penfield
Jackson ruled on Monday evening that Microsoft has violated antitrust law.
The following analysts are available for interviews beginning
Tuesday:
NORMAN HAWKER, [log in to unmask] A law
professor at Western Michigan University, Hawker said: "Judge Jackson crossed
the Rubicon in the antitrust case against Microsoft." Hawker, who has
published numerous articles on antitrust law and the Microsoft case, noted
that "the verdict against Microsoft demonstrates both the vitality
of antitrust law and the need for strong remedial steps to restore
competition in markets threatened by Microsoft."
ELEANOR FOX, [log in to unmask] Professor of Law at
New York University and co-author of the case book "Antitrust Law," Fox said:
"This is a dramatic option. In the late 1980s there was a sentiment that a
big monopoly case could not be won. This case has put the lie to that.
Predatory behavior is difficult to prove, but Microsoft did not cover its
tracks. With all the emails, as well as the arrogance of Microsoft, the
government was able to prove a great many predatory practices."
RALPH
NADER, http://www.cptech.org/ms Consumer
advocate Nader, who is available for a limited number of interviews, said:
"Microsoft has illegally crushed innovative competitors and harmed
consumers.... Its predatory and exclusionary practices have saddled consumers
with inferior technologies and blocked innovations which would have otherwise
occurred. Microsoft doesn't respect the antitrust laws, and it has amply
demonstrated that it can't be trusted.... If the government ends the
antitrust case by seeking changes in its conduct, but not in its structure,
Microsoft can be expected to creatively evade the thrust of such agreements.
The court must break up this monopoly corporation."
EBEN MOGLEN, [log in to unmask], http://emoglen.law.columbia.edu Professor
of Law at Columbia Law School and General Counsel for the Free Software
Foundation, Moglen said: "With clarity and care, Judge Jackson brought the
Microsoft Era to a certain and devastating end.... The facts Judge Jackson
found last November are now unquestionable by Microsoft in any other
antitrust litigation brought by those who allege that they have been harmed
by this or similar conduct.... The chances of reversal on appeal
are comparatively low.... Regardless of the remedies Judge Jackson
may ultimately decide to impose, private litigation will distract and
dismember Microsoft, while the free software movement continues to replace
the lower-quality higher-price goods provided by any monopolist, with
superior software that anyone can get, improve and redistribute for
nothing."
For more information, contact at the Institute for Public
Accuracy: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020