This week's In the News looks at the antitrust suits filed against Microsoft by the US Justice Department and attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia. The eight resources discussed provide an overview of the case, arguments on the merits of the case (from both sides), and some resources on antitrust policies. On May 18, 1998, the Department of Justice and attorneys general...

Is Microsoft the Standard Oil of the 1990's? Is Bill Gates the John D. Rockefeller of the 1990's? Of course, no one can say, but for those interested in following the upcoming battle between the US Department of Justice and the giant software company, this site offers a ringside seat at the battle, likely to be a long and bloody one. The Department of Justice Antitrust Division site is a full...

The issue of whether or not Microsoft engages in monopolistic practices has again emerged. The US Justice Department filed charges against Microsoft in the District Court of the District of Columbia on October 20, 1997. A conference organized by consumer advocate Ralph Nader was held November 13-14, 1997 in Washington DC. Information about the conference, including a speakers list, is available at...

Although it was leaked earlier in the week, today the Justice Department and the nineteen states party to the successful monopoly suit against the software maker will officially release their joint proposal for a remedy. The proposal will call for Microsoft to be split into two companies, which would be forbidden to recombine for at least ten years. Under the proposal, one of the companies would...

As expected, on June 7, 2000, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson approved the Department of Justice proposal to split the world's biggest software company into two entities. The company, of course, has announced it will appeal the decision, although they do not support Judge Jackson's intention to expedite the appeal process directly to the Supreme Court. The company would rather first move the case to...

As expected, on June 7, 2000, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson approved the Department of Justice proposal to split the world's biggest software company into two entities. The company, of course, has announced it will appeal the decision, although they do not support Judge Jackson's intention to expedite the appeal process directly to the Supreme Court. The company would rather first move the case to...

On May 31, 2000, Microsoft filed its last major brief before Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson in an effort to hold off the final breakup plan submitted by the Department of Justice Lawyers last Friday. On April 3, Judge Jackson ruled that Microsoft had engaged in anti-competitive marketing practices in violation of antitrust laws. The DOJ's breakup plan calls for splitting Microsoft into two...

In a strongly worded preliminary judgement released on November 5, US District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson determined that Microsoft is, in fact, a predatory monopoly. Within 30 days, attorneys for both sides will be back before Judge Jackson to present their own findings of law, arguments as to how the judge should rule based on the findings of fact. A final decision is not expected until...