“Public statements from both Microsoft Corp. and the government
have suggested that a negotiated settlement may be in the works in
the landmark antitrust trial, but the two sides are in fact so far
apart in their basic positions that a resolution seems almost
impossible.”
“The judge has been prodding both sides to negotiate a
settlement rather than wait for his next ruling. Yet such a
resolution doesn’t seem possible given the complex dynamics of this
case. Microsoft’s fundamental goal, to keep control of its Windows
operating system and maintain its grip on the market, and the the
government’s objective, of creating healthy competition in that
same space, are mutually exclusive.”
“The Justice Department and the 19 state attorneys general that
brought the suit might have been willing to settle the case last
year with limited pain for Microsoft, but the government is now
probably going to push for a harsh remedy, Weinstein said.
‘After the government has invested all this time, effort,
taxpayer money, and they’ve gotten this kind of result, the cost of
settling the case for Microsoft has gone up
dramatically.’ “