FC: Microsoft wants comments on antitrust deal -- whatever you think

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Mon Jan 14 2002 - 23:57:08 PST

  • Next message: Declan McCullagh: "FC: Freshmeat author replies to Politech on Borland license"

    [That's what they claim, at least. :) -Declan]
    
    ---
    
    From: "Microsoft"
    Subject: FINFlash Update:  Time running out for DOJ comments
    To: <declanat_private>
    Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 17:26:12 -0800
    
    A FINFlash Update: Settlement News - Public can Comment in Antitrust
    Matter; Class-Actions Suit Returns to Litigation
    
    To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, read the directions at 
    the bottom of this message.
    
    Deadline Nears for Public Comment on Antitrust Settlement
    
    The Tunney Act review period, during which the Department of Justice
    seeks public comment on its proposed antitrust settlement with 9
    states and Microsoft, closes Monday, January 28. The settlement is not
    guaranteed until after the review ends and the District Court
    determines whether the settlement is indeed in the public interest.
    
    The provisions of the agreement are tough, reasonable, fair to all
    parties involved, and go beyond the findings of Court of Appeals
    ruling. Still, while consumers overwhelmingly agree that settlement is
    good for them and the American economy, and overwhelmingly want to
    move beyond this litigation, nine states have refused to join the
    settlement. Some, including Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and
    Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly, are urging citizens via
    email or Web site to submit their comments to the DoJ during the
    Tunney review period.
    
    While Microsoft commends these public officials for involving citizens
    in a decision that will affect them so profoundly, your voice is more
    important now than ever before to ensure that the DoJ hears the full
    spectrum of opinion on this matter. Concerned citizens already have
    begun submitting their comments about whether the Microsoft case
    should be settled or further litigated.
    
    The Department of Justice will take all public comments and viewpoints
    and include them in a report for the District Court to
    consider. Please send your comments directly to the Department of
    Justice via email or fax no later than January 28th.
    
    Whatever your view of the settlement, it is critical that the
    government hears directly from consumers. Please take action today to
    ensure your voice is heard.
    
    Email:  microsoft.atrat_private .  In the Subject line of the e-mail, 
    type Microsoft Settlement.
    
    Fax: 1-202-307-1454 or 1-202-616-9937
    
    To find out more about the settlement and the Tunney Act review 
    period, go to the Department of Justice Website at: 
    http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/ms-settle.htm.
    
    Thanks for taking the time to make a difference.
    
    Class-action Lawsuit Returns to Litigation
    
    Friday, January 11, U.S. District Judge J. Fredrick Motz rejected a
    settlement that would have resolved more than 100 private class-action
    lawsuits filed against Microsoft in the wake of the 1999 decision
    issued by Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson during the trial court phase
    of the federal antitrust lawsuit. Under the proposal's terms,
    Microsoft would have given disadvantaged public schools more than $1
    billion in funding, software, services and training, and around 1
    million Windows licenses for renovated PCs.
    
    Microsoft, who sought input from educators on specific terms of the agreement, will  review the court's opinion and at the same time move forward with the next steps in the litigation while we continue to look for reasonable ways to resolve the matter. 
    
    For more information on the class-action lawsuits, go to the Freedom to Innovate Web site at www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate.com . 
    
    
    
    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list
    You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice.
    Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/
    To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html
    This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Events: Congreso Nacional de Periodismo Digital in Huesca, Spain from
    Jan. 17-18 (http://www.congresoperiodismo.com) and the Second
    International Conference on Web-Management in Diplomacy in Malta from
    Feb. 1-3. (http://www.diplomacy.edu/Web/conference2/)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 15 2002 - 00:07:42 PST