By Joey Gardiner, 8 May 2002 10:45
NEWS The nine US states pressing for stricter sanctions against Microsoft have won the right to demonstrate their proposed remedy - a "modular" version of the Windows operating system that Microsoft insists is impossible. The decision by presiding judge Kollar-Kotelly is a victory for the states, which have officially used up all of their witnesses, and shows the judge is at least considering the proposal. The nine states want Microsoft to unbundle applications like the browser and the media player from the core operating system to allow other application vendors to compete on a level playing field. However, Microsoft maintains the move is not feasible, because the applications are built so deeply into Windows. Kollar-Kotelly's decision means the states have the right to call a computer expert as a witness to demonstrate the kind of "modular" Windows they want to see, to prove it is possible. Kollar-Kotelly is charged with determining new remedies for Microsoft, after the original punishment was ruled too harsh. A settlement offer by Microsoft was accepted by half of the prosecuting states in November last year.
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