By Suzanna Kerridge, 1 March 2002 15:07
NEWS Microsoft and the US Department of Justice (DoJ) have agreed to changes within the proposed antitrust settlement in a bid to appease the remaining dissenting states. The two sides have remedied certain provisions to produce a tougher list of sanctions in an attempt to convince the nine states to sign the deal. At the top of the list is the deletion of a provision which, the states claim, infers that PC manufacturers have to surrender intellectual property rights without compensation. Companies, such as HP and Sony, had complained the proposals made it difficult for them to assert their patent rights against Microsoft. However, DoJ officials denied any suggestion that the provision had been intended to penalise PC manufacturers. In addition, Microsoft agreed to some word alterations to clarify its obligation to ensure Microsoft Windows is compatible with rival technology. The changes have been instigated ahead of the 11 March hearings - to be held by Judge Kollar Kotelly - to consider remedies sought by the nine states reluctant to accept the current settlement. Charles James, assistant attorney general for the antitrust division of the DoJ said the settlement was now a full and complete remedy that served public interest and protected consumer competition. However, Richard Blumenthal, attorney general of Connecticut, dismissed today's changes as woefully inadequate. He claimed he would continue to fight the settlement in the courts.
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