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DoJ issues final documents in Microsoft case

By Suzanna Kerridge

Published: Wednesday 08 December 1999

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) and 19 US states have filed papers accusing Microsoft of predatory acts to maintain its monopoly.

The filing represents the final arguments for the prosecution, in the ongoing anti-trust trial, and will be taken into account when Judge Jackson makes his ruling.

The documents argue that Microsoft acted illegally in four ways. They claim Microsoft put up barriers to competitors, tied the purchase of its Windows operating system to its acceptance of other software, entered exclusionary agreements and actively campaigned to keep rival Web browsers from consumers.

Government lawyers also argue that, "Microsoft took other anti-competitive actions to interfere with the distribution and development of cross-platform Java". It also alleges "Microsoft's browser and Java actions were parts of a 'multifront campaign' to impede cross-platform middleware by means of threats that restricted consumer choice."

In related news, the DoJ issued a statement announcing it has retained Greenhill & Co as financial advisors to "assist the division in analysing the financial aspects of the full range of potential remedies in US versus Microsoft, including conduct and structural relief."