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News > Technology
Microsoft takes on Feds
January 13, 1998: 8:59 p.m. ET

Software giant squares off against the federal government in heated exchange
From Correspondent Steve Young
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WASHINGTON (CNNfn) - Microsoft Corp. challenged contempt charges today in U.S. District Court. The software giant is accused of failing to abide by a judge's order to stop bundling its Internet browser with its Windows 95 operating system.
     Instead of appeasing the court, a heated argument erupted between Microsoft lawyers and the judge. Microsoft's legal team says the company has fully complied with the judge's order that it change its marketing tactics.
     But in court the government said the answer to whether Microsoft obeyed the court ruling is a resounding "no."
     U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson had told the company it had to sell Windows 95 without an Internet browser. Microsoft responded by offering a version two years old, or a current one that doesn't work.
     The government said if Microsoft was confused about the judge's meaning it could have consulted the court.
     The software giant insisted the company has done what the judge required. Microsoft lawyers said the government is now trying to change the rules after seeing that what Justice Department lawyers wanted results in useless software.
     Several times, Judge Jackson said the Justice Department's words aren't the issue. "It is my language alone that matters," he said.
     A government witness said Windows 95 works fine when a simple Windows 95 "delete program" feature is used to cut off access to Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
     "What files, give me the names, should Microsoft have deleted to comply?" asked a Microsoft lawyer.
     The witness was unable to do so.
     Late in the day Microsoft put on its witness who testified, "We designed, developed and tested [the Web browser] as an integral part of Windows 95."
     Microsoft wants the judge's expert adviser removed from the case. It says the Harvard cyber-law expert is biased against the company. The judge hasn't said when he'll rule on that motion.Back to top

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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.