FC: Microsoft replies to Sen. Chuck "Break Up Bill" Schumer

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

According to Bloomberg (more links below):

> Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, called on state attorneys 
> general to seek a court order halting the planned Oct. 25 release of 
> Windows XP unless Microsoft agrees to make ``significant changes.'' U.S. 
> Justice Department officials also should insist on changes during any 
> negotiations aimed at settling the government's antitrust lawsuit, he 
> said. ``You can't just unring a bell,'' Schumer said at a news conference. 
> ``If Microsoft proceeds with its current plans and releases XP, there may 
> be no going back, and newer and better technologies may never see the 
> light of day.''

-Declan

**********

Subject: Microsoft Response to Senator Schumer Statement
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 04:28:39 -0700
From: "Vivek Varma"

News coverage this morning indicates Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) 
released a statement last night calling for hearings on Windows XP citing 
complaints from AOL Time Warner and Kodak.  Please use the following 
statement from the company as a preliminary response.   I will be out of 
the office today so please contact Jim Desler if you have additional 
questions.


While we respect the opinion of Senator Schumer and all Members of the 
Senate Judiciary Committee, Microsoft does not believe the complaints of 
AOL and Kodak merit a Congressional Hearing.

Contrary to AOL s self-interested lobbying, Windows XP is designed to 
enable user choice and partner opportunity.  Windows XP is designed to 
bring more choice and options to consumers, not fewer.  In stark contrast 
to AOL-TW s closed, proprietary strategy.

We will continue to work with the Senators, their staffs and other 
interested parties to show the innovations,  consumer benefit and industry 
opportunity in our upcoming release of Windows.

Many in the industry are already familiar with beta versions of Windows 
XP.  In fact, many of our partners are working closely with us in 
anticipation of the launch of the product.

There are thousands of partners throughout the country including over 50 in 
the State of New York that are actively working on and have a stake in the 
successful launch of Windows XP.

We continue to hear enthusiasm from many in the computer industry about the 
upcoming launch of Windows XP.  Many analysts and industry observers 
believe Windows XP will give the PC industry and the economy a much needed 
boost.

In terms of the on-going litigation and potential settlement 
discussions&.     We have repeatedly expressed our willingness to work with 
the government to resolve the remaining issues in this case.

**********

InternetNews.com article
Jul. 24, 2001 15:40 ET
http://www.internetnews.com/wd-news/article/0,2171,10_807621,00.html

Sen. Schumer Frets Over Microsoft's XP
Jul. 24, 2001 15:35 ET
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/168286.html

Senator Demands Changes in Microsoft's Windows XP
Jul. 24, 2001 14:11 ET
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20010724/pl/tech_microsoft_senate_dc_1.html

Senator targets Windows XP
Jul. 24, 2001 12:15 ET
http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2001/07/24/technology/microsoft/

Microsoft: No need for Senate hearings on XP
Jul. 24, 2001 12:11 ET
http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B10A29EBB-9742-4224-8BF8-8CC35D62DAA9%7D&siteid=mktw

Senate committee plans XP hearings
Jul. 24, 2001 11:10 ET
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2796912,00.html?chkpt=zdnn_nbs_hl





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