Tags:
Journalism of Courage
WASHINGTON, APRIL 4: A federal judge has ruled that Microsoft violated US antitrust law by monopolising the market for PC operating system software and using its dominance against competitors.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said in Redmond that the company would appeal the verdict given by Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.
Judge Jackson, in a 43-page conclusion of law, said on Monday that Microsoft quot;maintained its monopoly power by anti-competitive means and attempted to monopolise the Web browser marketquot;. He, therefore, found that the company had violated two sections of the Sherman Antitrust Act, as had been alleged by the US Justice Department and a coalition of 19 states.
But Jackson also held that quot;the facts found do not support the conclusionquot; that Microsoft8217;s marketing arrangements with other companies were violations of the law. In his ruling, Jackson said Microsoft failed to rebut the argument that Windows had monopolised the market for PC operating systems.
He said the government had provided ample evidence that was not refuted of quot;Microsoft8217;s dominant, persistent market share protected by a substantial barrier to entryquot;.
Reacting to the verdict, Gates said, quot;As we look ahead to the appeals process, innovation will continue to be the number one priority at Microsoft.quot;
