Back in 2002, Microsoft agreed to a landmark settlement in its huge antitrust case with the federal government. Part of the settlement was that Microsoft agreed to oversight of its business activities to ensure the company did not abuse its monopoly position in the computer operating system market. Most of those restrictions were set to lapse on November 12, 2007, but Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who is responsible for overseeing the antitrust settlement, has agreed to a delay to consider whether those restrictions should be extended another five years.
Microsoft and the attorney’s general of 17 states (and the District of Columbia) jointly petitioned the court, asking more time be allowed for filings and for the judge to consider the arguments. The delay could push Kollar-Kotelly’s decision back to end of January 2008.
The U.S. Justice Department has already filed an argument that most of the Microsoft oversight provisions should be allowed to lapse on November 12. Last year, Microsoft agreed to extend a provision covering communications protocols licensing into 2009. However, two groups of states are petitioning the court to extend remaining antitrust monitoring provisions for another five years, arguing that the sanctions imposed against Microsoft have not leveled the playing first in several key technology markets, including Web browsers and digital media players. One group of states is headed up by California, and includes Massachusetts, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia; the second group is headed up by New York, and includes Maryland, Louisiana, and Florida.
Earlier this month, Microsoft capitulated its appeal of antirust decisions against it by the European Commission; and dropped a similar appeal of antitrust rulings against it in South Korea.
