Microsoft Final Arguments To Begin

Final arguments in the federal antitrust suit against Microsoft Corp. are slated to begin today, after the judge decided that settlement talks are lagging.

A report by the Associated Press today states that talks are going so
poorly that US District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson is
pressing ahead with plans for final courtroom arguments before
rendering his verdict.

Jackson reportedly does not see a need to delay the last round of
arguments to accommodate ongoing secret negotiations in Chicago
between government lawyers and Microsoft officials, AP reported.

Jackson previously said that if US Circuit Court Judge Richard
Posner, who is mediating the negotiations, "seems to think that more
time is needed, that certainly is something I would be willing to
consider too." Jackson added, however, that Posner has requested no
additional time.

Jackson's decision likely will generate appeals, and could come
within weeks of today's final arguments. If Microsoft is found guilty
of antitrust violations, the judge indicated that he will call
another proceeding to determine what actions to take against the
software giant, AP said.

Sources indicate little progress in the Chicago negotiations, which
are aimed at averting a slow appeals battle that could remain in the
courts for years. Jackson has urged both sides to reach a settlement,
AP said.

The final arguments follow a dispute last week on whether Microsoft
chairman Bill Gates was inclined to offer a key concession to
government lawyers to settle. The dispute revolves around reports
last week that Microsoft was willing to open the blueprints to the
Windows programs, making them available to competitors. Microsoft
denied such willingness after Bloomberg News reported Gates had told
them he was open to the suggestion, according to AP.

Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com.