“Microsoft President Steve Ballmer sent a message to the
computer industry — as well as the U.S. Department of Justice —
that the software giant is “thinking with great interest” about
opening up Windows source code.”
“Ballmer’s comments at the Windows Hardware Engineering
Conference ’99 here Wednesday marked the first time that Microsoft
has publicly mulled over the possibility of using an open-source
model for its prized operating system.”
“One of the remedies being discussed in the Microsoft antitrust
trial is opening up Windows to other developers. Company officials,
who have met with government prosecutors in hopes of negotiating a
settlement, have in the past closely guarded Windows source code as
intellectual property.”