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Another Microsoft suit
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August 19, 1998: 12:00 p.m. ET
Bristol Technology accuses software giant of 'predatory manipulation'
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Bristol Technology Inc., an early partner in the development of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT operating system, said Wednesday it has filed an antitrust suit against the software giant.
In the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, Conn., Bristol accused Microsoft of using "predatory manipulation" of access to key programming code to harm Bristol and other companies. Bristol also said Microsoft stifled its efforts to develop Windows NT-related software.
Windows NT is Microsoft's operating system for corporate networks. The company is banking on the next release, due next year, to bring in high margins.
Bristol said it began helping Microsoft develop Windows programming interfaces -- the underlying technology that lets users navigate through Windows NT -- in 1991. The company said after Microsoft "created a dependency for Bristol and its customers on the Windows programming interfaces," Microsoft now is attempting to cut off access to Windows' programming source code.
Bristol also said the complaint accuses Microsoft of "entangling Bristol in a charade to stifle competition from other operating systems: UNIX, Compaq's OpenVMS and IBM's OS/390."
Danbury, Conn.-based Bristol develops the Wind/U family of Windows and UNIX cross-platform development products.
Bristol said it is seeking unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The injunction would require Microsoft to provide Bristol with source code for future versions of Windows operating systems, including Microsoft Windows NT 4 and Windows NT 5.
Microsoft officials could not be reached for immediate comment.
Microsoft (MSFT) shares gained 1 to 112-1/4 in late-morning trading. 
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