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US Government Withdraws Microsoft Break-Up Call
The US Government has abandoned its demand for a break-up of Microsoft Corporation and dropped further action on its complaint about the web browser being tied into Windows, ABC reports Friday.
"The Department of Justice's antitrust division today advised Microsoft that it will not seek a break-up of the company in remand proceedings before the US District Court," it said.
It also informed Microsoft that it was giving up on action over the original complaint that Microsoft unfairly tied its Internet Explorer web browser into the Windows operating system.
"The department said it is taking these steps in an effort to obtain prompt, effective and certain relief for consumers," the Department of Justice statement said.
Microsoft said it was determined to settle the entire case.
"We remain committed to resolving the remaining issues of this case," Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler said.
The US appeals court on June 28 upheld a finding Microsoft acted as an illegal monopoly.
But it said the breakup of the company ordered last year by District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson was not justified by the evidence.
The appeals judges said the case should be assigned to another district court judge for review, ruling the original judge violated judicial ethics in discussing the case with journalists.
The first hearing by a new judge in Washington was ordered for September 21.
The new trial judge, Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, had ordered the parties to submit a joint status report by September 14 before that hearing, which is to consider further proceedings.
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