WINDOWS XP MAY HAVE TO BE PULLED BACK
(From Infotech)WASHINGTON: Microsoft contends that it will be forced to pull Windows XP off the market and be unable to develop new systems if anti-trust sanctions sought by state prosecutors are granted. In court documents released on Monday, Microsoft denied that the proposal was part of a "doomsday defence," but said the remedy sought by the states are a "calculated effort by Microsoft's competitors to inflict maximum commercial injury on the company, without regard to the well-being of the industry or consumers." The states that rejected last year's anti-trust settlement accepted by the US Justice Department are to begin their case next week in US District Court here. They are seeking tougher penalties, including a stripped-down version of Windows, which would eliminate Microsoft's advantage of incorporating various items of software, such as Internet browsers and media players, in the operating system. Microsoft said this remedy "would result in grievous harm not only to Microsoft, but also to the entire PC industry and to the tens of millions of consumers around the world that use Microsoft products." The company said the proposal "not only would prevent Microsoft from developing and releasing new versions of Windows, thus causing innovation in the leading PC platform to come to a halt, but would also cause the withdrawal from the market of Windows XP and Windows 2000". The states, in filing with the court, said they plan to present witnesses who will testify that Microsoft has been using its market power to force computer makers to favour its products over those of rivals. Among the witnesses will be Anthony Fama of Gateway, who will argue that a tougher penalty is needed "to prevent Microsoft from continuing to favour personal computer manufacturers who support Microsoft's products, to the disadvantage of personal computer manufacturers who do not". Microsoft said it "expects" to call its founder and chairman Bill Gates to the witness stand, although it may modify its witness list depending on the circumstances. If he appears, it would be Gates' first testimony in the case since a videotaped deposition played in court in 1998 that infuriated the judge because of his evasive answers.
As Nelson from the Simpsons would say, "HA HA!"
