Timeline

Below is a timeline of some significant events in the history of Microsoft and other companies in the technology industry.

1960's | 1970's | 1980-1984 | 1985-1989 | 1990-1994 | 1995 | 1996-1999 | 2000's

1996-1999

Time Period	Description
March 11, 1996	Sun and Microsoft enter into Technology Licensing and Distribution Agreement (TLDA) and Trademark License Agreement concerning Java.
August, 1996	Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 3.0 Netscape releases Navigator 3.0
August 5, 1996	Caldera files antitrust suit against Microsoft
September, 1996	Microsoft releases its Windows NT 4.0 operating system IBM releases OS/2 Warp 4
November, 1996	Microsoft launches its Windows CE 1.0 operating system for handheld and portable devices
January 2, 1997	Microsoft settles contract dispute with Spyglass over browsing technology, paying Spyglass an $8 million flat payment to cover past debts and all future use of the software
Spring, 1997 - Summer, 1998	Microsoft encourages Apple to stop making QuickTime for Windows 95
July, 1997	Steve Jobs returns to Apple Computer as interim CEO
August 6, 1997	Microsoft invests $150 million in Apple Computer. Apple announces Internet Explorer will be the default browser on all Apple systems.
September, 1997	Microsoft releases hardware specifications for its Windows CE 2.0 operating system for handheld and portable devices
October 8, 1997	Sun files suit against Microsoft alleging Microsoft violated Sun's Java licensing agreement seeking an injunction and $35 million in monetary damages.
October 20, 1997	DOJ reopens original dispute alleging Microsoft is in contempt of the original consent decree. The U.S. requests Microsoft be fined $1 million per day and be enjoined from certain sales.
December 11, 1997	Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson rules that Microsoft is not in contempt of the consent decree but may also not be in compliance with it. He appoints Lawrence Lessig as Special Master for the case.
January 22, 1998	Microsoft and the U.S. stipulated to an order whereby Microsoft would allow computer manufacturers licensed to preinstall Windows 95 certain options regarding preinstalled software
March 24, 1998	U.S. District Court issues a preliminary injunction barring Microsoft from using the Java Compatibility logo.
May 18, 1998	DOJ and attorneys general from 20 states file lawsuit against Microsoft alleging the company is in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, and seeks to enjoin Microsoft from selling certain products and engaging in certain sales practices.
June 15, 1998	Microsoft executives meet with Apple, including Steve Jobs, to encourage a common media format based solely on Microsoft's APIs. Apple later rejects the offer.
June 23, 1998	United States District Court of Appeals reverses the preliminary injunction and the appointment of the Special Master, Lawrence Lessig.
June 25, 1998	Microsoft launches its Windows 98 operating system
July 21, 1998	Steve Ballmer named president of Microsoft. Bill Gates remains Chairman and CEO.
October 19, 1998	DOJ / Microsoft antitrust trial begins
November 17, 1998	U.S. District Court issues a broader injunction against Microsoft concerning Java. Injunction requires Microsoft products to pass Sun's Java compatibility test suite within 90 days, affecting IE 4.0, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, and Visual J++ 6.0.
November 24, 1998	AOL acquires Netscape in deal valued at $4.2 billion AOL reaches 3-year marketing and development agreement with Sun
December 7, 1998	South Carolina withdraws from antitrust suit
February, 1999	IBM announces major commitments to the Linux operating system for both hardware and software
August 23, 1999	9th Circuit Court of Appeals sets aside November 17, 1998 injunction against Microsoft.
October 15, 1999	Microsoft lobbies Congress to reduce DOJ budget for fiscal year 2000
November, 1999	AOL debuts release 5.0 of its on-line service
November 5, 1999	Judge Jackson files court's Findings of Fact in DOJ / Microsoft antitrust suit
November 19, 1999	Judge Jackson names Judge Richard Posner as mediator for the MS/DOJ case in the hopes of reaching a settlement