Weekly News Summary
 (c) 2002 by Greg Utrecht

Most people don't have time to follow the sentencing in the
Microsoft monopoly and predatory trade practices verdict. Here
is my weekly summary for October 26, 2002

* Washington - the decision whether to keep or change the
original verdict is due any day. Also expected are rulings on
the proposed settlement that some of the plaintiffs agreed to,
and the reduced penalties that do not include break-up that the
other 9 governments are now willing to settle for.

Last July conservative attorneys Robert Bork and Ken Starr
commented "Microsoft appears impervious to law. It seems an
unrepentant recidivist. That is a major reason to consider a
breakup seriously." - July 5, 2001 Wall Street Journal

Manufacturers charged that Microsoft is not following the
penalties they agreed to in the proposed settlement, saying that
the level of capitalism and fair competition is still zero. Bill
Gates commented that these issues have already been settled and
the specifics are part of an ongoing discussion.

BEGIN HUMOR
* Boston - Microsoft sued competitor Lindows, saying the name is
virtually a trademark and poor quality in the Lindows product
might reflect on the level of quality in Microsoft's product.
Thermal Seal and Air Tight manufacturing companies are also being
sued, as well as the makers of flu remedies and IHOP Pancakes,
the makers of a product similar to a stack overflow.

* Sacramento - Claiming that Microsoft had the vision to
practically invent computers, Microsoft CEO took credit for chat
and instant messaging. When asked about the popular 1993 program
mIRC, he said "Al Gore didn't even get involved in the Internet
till 1994, you can't fault Microsoft for not knowing what
happened before we got involved in 1996."

* Redmond - Following recent reorganization in the Justice
Department Anti-Trust division Microsoft announced a
re-organization it's legal department. A spokesman said "We
expect to realize synergies from the realignment and focus of our
legal staff to maximize our opposition to the United States of
America." Asked what that meant he said "We are creating a legal
team for each of the markets that we monopolize. 1)Operating
Systems, 2)Programming languages, 3)Applications, 4)Media and
Content, 5)Entertainment Games and Gambling, and 6)Internet
Service Provider"

He said "We are now the largest employer of attorneys in the
Pacific Northwest. No, we don't have plans to build Microsoft
Car. We are a horizontal and vertical Operation Systems,
Programming, Applications, Content, Gambling and ISP predatory
monopoly. We do not want to control your life.
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