The US Circuit Court for DC today enthusiastically approved the Microsoft settlement, 6-0, stating that it was not only in the public interest, but that the arguments against it were without merit.
In exuberant language, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia applauded provisions of the complex settlement that permit computer makers to hide Microsoft's built-in Web browser software so that consumers can more seamlessly use software from Microsoft's rivals.Now the ball is in the European courts. One has to wonder if the Europeans will allow rulings of "international courts" to guide their own decisions. Posted by Kevin Murphy at June 30, 2004 05:35 PM | TrackBack
"We say, Well done!'" the court wrote.
The appeals court said an alternate settlement proposal from Massachusetts to require Microsoft to remove parts of its software from the dominant Windows operating system could hurt consumers by leading to a confusing world with different versions of Windows.
The court also rebuffed a plan by Massachusetts to require Microsoft to reveal the secret blueprints for its Web browser, saying such a move might help the company's rivals but not help competition flourish.
The court did permit two anti-Microsoft trade organizations in Washington, the Computer and Communications Industry Association and the Software and Information Industry Association, to seek tougher sanctions against Microsoft.
But the appeals judges predicted their efforts would lead nowhere, saying the groups' arguments have "no merit," and noting that the lower courts have already considered and rejected many of those arguments.