CSE Applauds Federal Court Decision on Mass. Versus Microsoft

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia today rejected the bid by the state of Massachusetts and two trade associations to overturn the 2001 antitrust settlement between Microsoft and the federal government.

CSE Chairman C. Boyden Gray made the following comments:

“The Court of Appeals made the right decision. The consent decree’s regulatory framework is working and it is time to move on.”

“Massachusetts was the only state still challenging the antitrust settlement, which the U.S. Department of Justice testified provides, ‘prompt, certain and effective relief.’ The case was weak on its merits and simply provided interested parties another opportunity to prolong litigation. Some parties to the case are trade associations backed, in large part, by Microsoft’s competitors. In the wake of the consent decree, such rivalries are better resolved by consumers in the marketplace rather than lawyers in the courtroom.”