Give it a rest
By MIKE BERMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
December 11, 2002

Please, say it isn't so! It can't be happening! Just when we thought it was over, we're being pulled back in!

About a month ago, Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly announced he was going to appeal the ruling in the ongoing Microsoft soap opera. Now, just to make things a bit more dramatic, Darrell McGraw -the attorney general in West Virginia- is reconsidering accepting the decision because he hates to see "Reilly twisting in the wind" and really isn't comfortable with the agreement.

Well, here's a news bulletin for you: I'm not comfortable with your discomfort. I just can't tolerate any more episodes in this nauseating soap opera. Please, enough already!

Just when we thought that Microsoft and other companies could play in the same sandbox, these guys are refusing to settle.

Let it rest. The election's over. You've already won (or lost). It's time to use your states' money - which they insist will be reimbursed by Microsoft - to shore up sagging budgets, pay state employees and pump funds back into schools.

Federal Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has rebuffed moves for tougher penalties because they would end up benefiting Microsoft's competitors, although the company has agreed not to participate in any exclusive deals that could hurt them.

Also, Microsoft has agreed to let computer manufacturers and customers remove icons from desktops for some Windows features, such as Internet Explorer and Outlook Express - and release some technical information to rival software companies to sort of level the playing field.

Attorneys general from the seven states that have agreed to the settlement feel that their primary focus should now be on enforcement of all stipulations of the deal, which may be weak, but resulted in some sort of gratification in that Microsoft did get a slap on the wrist.

Reilly has called the agreement a "loophole-filled deal" without adequate sanctions. Obviously, nothing less than a breakup of the software giant is acceptable - a concept that hasn't worked in the past (take a look at the breakup of AT&T).

This was the original aim of the Justice Department, when it began taking on Uncle Bill and company many moons ago. But it soon realized it was aiming a bit too high and proposed a settlement, which was toughened a bit by Kollar-Kotelly.

When will it end? Stay tuned.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Feedback Form