Washington Post: Microsoft Drafts Reply to Breakup Proposal

[ Thanks to Kevin
Reichard for this link. ]

“Microsoft Corp. is drafting a counterproposal to the
government’s breakup plan that involves limits on its business
practices, such as giving computer makers more flexibility to alter
Windows software and offering versions of Windows without access to
the company’s Internet browser, people familiar with the plan said
yesterday.”

“The company’s proposal is meant to show U.S. District Judge
Thomas Penfield Jackson that there is a remedy directly addressing
the court’s verdict–that Microsoft broke federal antitrust
law–without going to the ‘radical’ extent of breaking the company
in two, sources close to the company said.“

“The Justice Department and 17 states last month urged the judge
to break Microsoft into two companies: one that would sell personal
computer operating systems, the brains that run PCs; and another
company that would focus on selling software applications, Internet
services and other Microsoft products. Two other states are seeking
tough limits on Microsoft’s conduct, but for now oppose a
breakup.”

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