Sign in Subscribe
Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft Gains Support in Antitrust Battle from Top Legal and Industry Figures

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Microsoft has found unexpected allies in its defense against the US government's antitrust lawsuit, with key figures from past presidential administrations and prominent industry groups voicing their support. The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT), a lobbying group representing 9,000 IT firms, has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Microsoft's favor, highlighting the depth of opposition to the government's case. Notably, President Jimmy Carter's attorney general, Griffin Bell, and President Lyndon Johnson's attorney general, Nicholas Katzenbach, have joined forces with Microsoft, along with President Clinton's legal counsel, Lloyd Cutler. These high-profile endorsements have bolstered Microsoft's claim that it has competed fairly and has not broken the law.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT), representing 9,000 IT firms, has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Microsoft, urging the court to reject the government's antitrust lawsuit.
  • Key figures from past presidential administrations, including President Jimmy Carter's attorney general, Griffin Bell, and President Lyndon Johnson's attorney general, Nicholas Katzenbach, have joined forces with Microsoft.
  • President Clinton's legal counsel, Lloyd Cutler, and others have supported Microsoft's stance, citing concerns about the government's heavy-handed regulatory approach.
  • Industry organizations, such as software reseller Corporate Software & Technology, Clarity Consulting, and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), have also expressed their support for Microsoft.
  • ACT President Jonathan Zuck argued that the high-tech community and consumers oppose the government's case, and that the industry wants to avoid regulation through antitrust litigation.
  • Microsoft's opponents, including US District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, have found that Microsoft used its monopoly power to control other parts of the high-tech industry.

Statistics:

  • The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) represents 9,000 IT firms.
  • 13 high-powered law firm partners, including President Jimmy Carter's attorney general, Griffin Bell, and President Lyndon Johnson's attorney general, Nicholas Katzenbach, have supported Microsoft.
  • Over 6 industry organizations have filed friend-of-the-court briefs in support of Microsoft.
  • The US government's lawsuit against Microsoft was initiated in 1999.
  • The case has been ongoing for over a year, with numerous briefs and counter-briefs filed on both sides.

Sources:

  • (NB) -- By Staff, Newsbytes (January 31, 2000)
  • Reported by Newsbytes.com (http://www.newsbytes.com)
  • Jackson's findings of fact, November 1999 (no source listed in the original article)

Read more