FC: Microsoft asks for 4-mo delay before antitrust punishments levied

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3GXQVSIVC&live=true&useoverridetemplate=ZZZUGORQ00C&tagid=ZZZNSJCX70C&subheading=global

Microsoft on Friday asked a federal judge to delay antitrust hearings aimed 
at deciding what remedies should be taken against the software giant in its 
long-running case. The company asked the court to postpone the hearings for 
four months because the nine US states still pursuing the case had expanded 
its scope and the proposed remedies. The discovery stages of the trial are 
scheduled to last until February 22 and the remedy hearings to begin on 
March 11. "We have asked the court to amend the scheduling order made in 
September because the scope of the case and the proposed remedies by the 
remaining nine states bear no resemblance to what was discussed in 
September," said Jim Desler, Microsoft's lead spokesperson on the case.
[...]

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Ladies and Gentlemen:

Here is a comment by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller,in response to
Microsoft's filing late today asking for a four-month extension of the
remedy phase of the case:

Friday, December 21, 2001

Tom Miller:

"If there is one thing that characterizes Microsoft's conduct in this case
even more than denial, it is delay, delay, delay.

"The States are ready to move ahead.  We have proposed reasonable and fair
remedies consistent with the Court of Appeals' decision, and Judge
Kollar-Kotelly has established a reasonable and expeditious schedule to
determine the remedies.  Let's get on to the conclusion of this case."

End of statement.


-- Bob Brammer
Iowa Attorney General's Office

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