UPDATE: Reaction mixed to Microsoft-DOJ settlement

by George A. Chidi, Jr.

November 2, 2001 —

The proposed settlement between Microsoft Corp. and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) drew a mixed response Friday from observers of the antitrust lawsuit filed more than three years ago.

Some observers wonder if the enforcement mechanism has any teeth, while others worry that more regulation will trip up the Redmond, Washington, software giant. The settlement is unlikely to change the opinions of those in IT circles -- companies that like and use Microsoft products say they plan to continue, while those who don't stopped relying on the company's wares a long time ago.

Most customers of Borland Software Corp., based in Scotts Valley, California, who have been approached by Chief Information Architect Mike Rozlog, have been trying for the last year to minimize the risk of being trapped in one software maker's grip, he said. Borland is an application development and management house.

Open platforms like XML (Extensible Markup Language) and other standardized technologies are ways of solving problems without being caught between Windows, Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java language or the Linux open-source operating system, he said.

The proposed settlement terms wouldn't change his customers behavior in this regard, he said, and he's not sure how it would change Microsoft's behavior either.

"I haven't found the meat of the punishment from being observed," Rozlog said regarding a provision that calls for oversight of Microsoft by an independent panel. "I don't know what the damages are if they do something that's bad

IDG News Service