Topic: DOJ wants extension of Microsoft antitrust judgment

[Nemesis]

Link to full article:

The DOJ today filed documents asking Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to extend her oversight of the Microsoft antitrust settlement. The antitrust order, originally scheduled to expire in November 2007, has already been extended by two years because of complaints about the state of the technical documentation.

Actually I think that 2007 expiry was after an earlier extension.

Under the settlement, Microsoft is required to license the communications protocols to other IT vendors interested in developing server software that works with its Windows operating system. As of March 31, there were 1,716 identified problems in the technical documentation, according to an antitrust status report filed Thursday.

They have had what is it now 8 years to comply and STILL haven't done so.  When do they get punished for disobeying the court? 

[toasty0]

Technical problems with the 'document" could be anything Nem.

[Nemesis]

I'm judging by their documentation issues in Europe.  In that case Microsoft claimed that they didn't have and could not create such documentation.  When the fines got high enough they managed it.  In the U.S. with no penalties they continue to provide inadequate and inaccurate documentation.  How long do they get to flout court orders?

[marstone]

I'm judging by their documentation issues in Europe.  In that case Microsoft claimed that they didn't have and could not create such documentation.  When the fines got high enough they managed it.  In the U.S. with no penalties they continue to provide inadequate and inaccurate documentation.  How long do they get to flout court orders?

Hmmm, under new government policies of "too big to fail" probably forever.

[Nemesis]

Hmmm, under new government policies of "too big to fail" probably forever.

They still have $20 billion (at least) and an impressive (though I understand declining) profit margin.