Monitor

The News of the World The US appeal court's verdict on Microsoft

Thursday 25 June 1998 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

USA Today

Support for the company already seems to be of two minds. A New York Times/CBS News poll reported last week found great admiration for Gates and his company. But most Americans also agree that the Justice Department should continue its Microsoft investigation. The real danger for Microsoft is that admiration for the company's amazing success may turn to disgust over the lengths to which it would go to preserve it. Microsoft this week releases its new Windows 98 OS to the nation's retail shelves -- bundled Internet Explorer and all. It's a commercial victory for the beleaguered company. But it may be a Pyrrhic one.

New York Times

For all the dust kicked up in the legal battle over Microsoft Corporation's right to include Web browsing software in its Windows 95 operating system, a ruling by a US appeals court this week in the software giant's favour is likely to have little impact on the imminent release of Windows 98, a new version that integrates the browser even more tightly. What the dispute has managed to do is to focus attention on a product that has played to widespread yawns in computer industry publications. In recent weeks, even Microsoft has been playing down revenue expectations for Windows 98.

Financial Times

The US Court of Appeal in Washington has dealt a potentially devastating blow to the antitrust case against Microsoft... The ruling highlights the drawbacks of a suit focused closely on the rivalry between Microsoft and its browser rival, Netscape Communications. This exposes the justice department both to judicial hazards and to public scepticism. The case may yet recover from both of these problems. But it will not be easy.

Salon Magazine (Internet)

Even if the Justice Department doesn't appeal this ruling and focuses its efforts on the new suit, the questions asked are not going to disappear. And everyone concerned about how Microsoft uses its extraordinary power in the software marketplace ought to keep asking them. Sure, the government should tread carefully when intervening in the treacherously complex and fast-shifting technology marketplace. Recklessness is inappropriate. But its opposite doesn't serve the public very well, either.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in