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Microsoft gets Java jolt
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March 17, 1998: 3:21 p.m. ET
Justice Department asks Sun about Microsoft's dealings with Java
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The U.S. Justice Department has expanded its probe into Microsoft Corp.'s business dealings to include Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java programming language.
Sun spokesman Anne Little confirmed the software company had received a subpoena, formally known as civil investigative demand, from the Justice Department and several states regarding Microsoft "quite some time ago."
However, she declined to elaborate on what type of information the subpoenas were seeking.
Java was launched by Palo Alto, Calif.-based Sun with hopes of challenging Microsoft's overwhelmingly dominant Windows operating system. The two firms have had a contentious relationship ever since, including litigation in which Sun charged that Microsoft violated terms of a Java licensing agreement.
The Justice Department has been investigating whether or not Microsoft violated terms of its 1994 consent decree by forcing PC makers who license the company's Windows 95 operating system to ship the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser as well.
Justice officials would not comment on whether the investigation had been widened, but a Microsoft spokesman said he wasn't surprised that Sun, from whom Microsoft licenses Java, would be approached by the agency. Microsoft was living up to its legal obligations, the spokesman added.
Microsoft spokesman Mark Murray said the Justice Department move is not unusual since the government has said for five months that every aspect of the business would be examined. News of the subpoenas was first reported by the Wall Street Journal Tuesday.
"Microsoft remains confident that as licenses with Sun are reviewed everyone will see Microsoft is living up to their agreement," he said.
Through its Java license, Microsoft (MSFT) has created tools and applications which put the programming language to use. Sun Microsystems (SUNW), however, says that Microsoft is creating a hybrid version of Java in an attempt to take over the language, a charge Microsoft denies.
Java is touted by Sun as being a cross-platform language, meaning one program can be written to work across a variety of operating systems, such as Windows and Apple Computer Inc.'s Mac OS. Java worries that any changes made by Microsoft will interfere with that versatility.
Sun Microsystems' shares were off 3/16 to 43-1/4 in late afternoon trade while Microsoft shares were off 1-5/16 to 80-1/16.
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