Microsoft Lawyer to help set policy on Antitrust oversight

[Dover]

Feb. 6, 2004, 12:16AM

Microsoft lawyer to help set policy on antitrust oversight
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stung by earlier court rulings, Microsoft has positioned one of its top lawyers to run a legal committee to influence how much oversight U.S. courts exercise in antitrust settlements like the one the company negotiated with the Bush administration.

The debate over how aggressively federal judges should scrutinize these settlements is pivotal in the next major ruling in Microsoft's long-running antitrust case, a decision that could come as early as today.

Microsoft's effort in the legal community illustrates how the world's largest software company is moving to protect its interests in venues where it has found itself challenged. It also has increasingly participated in the political process in Washington and in technology standards organizations.

A U.S. appeals court is considering whether the landmark settlement Microsoft negotiated with the Justice Department in late 2001 was tough enough. The ruling could force fundamental changes to Microsoft's profitable Windows software, the engine for hundreds of millions of personal computers....cont'd

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2390180

[aquart]

1. Fox? Hen house. Hen house? Fox.

[burrowowl]

2. Fox? Henhouse?

Chicken voting for Colonel Sanders ....
Will wonders never cease!

[alfredo]

3. Microsoft gave a lot of money for Ashcroft's failed run for

the senate. Microsoft also gave a lot to bush, even letting one of their lobbyist work bush's campaign for free. (Ralph Reed) Reed was also working with Enron. Funny how those two companies get around.

[JailForBush]

4. Bill Gates is a far, far bigger menace - and bastard - than most people

realize. I can't believe how many people, even here no DU, admire him or "hate him only because he makes crappy software."

Why do no candidates for public office make Gates a campaign issue?

[burrowowl]

5. I used to think that

Gate$ was the anti-christ, then I thought it was Bu$h. Now I don't know which is which, One is the homoculum of the other, that is for sure.

[JailForBush]

6. A matter of perspective...

If you conducted an international survey to determine the most hated people in the world, George W. Bush and Bill Gates would probably both be in the top ten - and a few members of Bush's administration would likely rank in the top ten as well.

Sobering thought, isn't it?

[Wonk]

7. "I don't think the chair provides Microsoft any tactical or strategic

advantage," Manishin said.

:argh:

[denverbill]

8. Words fail me. Truly.

How much more blatantly can this administration whore itself around? Maybe they should just started auctioning off stuff like this to the highest bidder on GOPBay.

Item #49388-23882
Item Description: Ability to single-handedly write Medicare 'reform' policy bill.

Minimum bid: $1 million.

Current bid: $25 million - Pharmaceutical Association of America.

[central scrutinizer]

9. What's next?

The Walton family appointed to the National Labor Relations Board?
Monsanto's CEO appointed Secretary of Agriculture?
Henry Kissinger appointed head of the 9/11 commission?