Microsoft in last ditch attempt to preserve status quo

Microsoft has delivered its final written defence in an attempt to fend off the attack from the remaining nine US states that refuse to settle the anti-trust case.

The software giant took 500 pages to defend its position and business practices to US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

It argued that by imposing the strict sanctions as demanded by the nine states, rivals such as AOL Time Warner and Sun Microsystems would benefit and future development of Windows would be impaired.

In the filing, Microsoft claimed the sanctions would "preserve or boost the fortunes of Microsoft's competitors without increasing competition or improving consumer welfare".

Microsoft's legal eagles accused its competitors of only worrying about their own market position and not their ability to challenge Microsoft's monopoly in the operating systems market.

In response, the unhappy states argued that the Department of Justice's settlement was too lenient and would not prevent the company from repeating its anticompetitive practices.

Proposals include disclosure of the workings of Microsoft Windows and the free licensing of Internet Explorer.

The states, including California, Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts, said Microsoft's argument contained "exceptions, carve-outs, ambiguities, and omissions".

Both sides are due to present aural arguments to Judge Kollar-Kotelly on 19 June.

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