Close
  • Latest News
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
eWEEK.com
Search
eWEEK.com
  • Latest News
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News

      Judge Threatens Microsoft, Private Plaintiffs With Ruling

      By
      PETER GALLI
      -
      January 3, 2002
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        The judge overseeing the private antitrust cases against Microsoft Corp. has told the parties he will rule next Thursday on whether or not to accept the proposed preliminary settlement unless there is significant progress in the mediation efforts currently under way.

        Steve Benz, a partner at law firm Kellog, Huber, Hansen, Todd & Evans, in Washington, D.C., and co-counsel for the California plaintiffs, told eWEEK that Maryland Federal District Judge J. Frederick Motz has informed the parties that he will rule on the preliminary settlement on Jan. 10 unless there is progress in the mediation efforts.

        While also confirming that mediation efforts are continuing between Microsoft and lawyers for the plaintiffs to try to iron out a settlement for the more than 100 private antitrust cases against the Redmond, Wash., software company, Benz declined to elaborate further due to the confidentiality order in place.

        The parties formally met on Dec. 18 with mediator Ken Feinberg — without any resolution — with Feinberg at the time asking them to keep the window of mediation open.

        Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler also confirmed today that the process remains open and mediation attempts continue. “There is open dialogue between us, but I cant disclose any specifics regarding that as a result of the confidentiality order,” Desler said.

        The private antitrust cases were brought against Microsoft last year following the ruling by U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson that the company had violated two sections of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

        While a proposed settlement is already on the table and parties have already argued its merits before Motz, some California class-action lawyers have opposed the deal and have asked the judge to strike down the settlement or allow their lawsuits to proceed separately in California.

        They, and other parties like Apple Computer Inc., feel the settlement negotiated by Microsoft and the other class-action lawyers is a ploy designed to entrench the Windows monopoly while allowing the company to pay back only a fraction of what it actually owes consumers.

        Motz has himself expressed concern about the deal, which would give the nations poorest schools computers and software estimated at $1 billion. He is worried about including California in the proposed settlement and thus ordered the parties to meet with the mediator to hammer out more acceptable terms for all.

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Android

        Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

        CHRIS PREIMESBERGER - December 5, 2020 0
        Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
        Read more
        Cloud

        Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

        CHRIS PREIMESBERGER - December 1, 2020 0
        Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
        Read more
        Cybersecurity

        How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

        EWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
        Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
        Read more
        Big Data and Analytics

        How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

        ZEUS KERRAVALA - November 18, 2020 0
        There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
        Read more
        Apple

        Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

        WAYNE RASH - November 26, 2020 0
        If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
        Read more
        eWeek


        Contact Us | About | Sitemap

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        Terms of Service | Privacy Notice | Advertise | California - Do Not Sell My Info

        © 2020 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

        ×