“All previous attempts by Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson to
push Microsoft and the government in the direction of a settlement
have failed. But both sides welcomed the decision to appoint
Richard Posner, the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago as mediator.”
“The appointment of Judge Posner, an expert on antitrust who has
published extensively – including works on sexuality and the
economics of AIDs, does not mean that a break in the impasse is at
hand. Indeed, the current schedule for the trial remains the same
and Judge Jackson set Feb. 22 as the court date for oral arguments
on the Proposed Rules of Law. That document will be his final
determination on whether Microsoft broke federal anti-trust
statutes.”
“In statements since the findings were published Nov. 5,
Microsoft officials led by CEO Bill Gates have floated several
trial balloons, hinting at the company’s willingness to reach a
deal. And a spokesman for Microsoft Friday said the company was
willing to work with Judge Posner to reach a solution.”