Microsoft may be split up, says judge
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.THE US Justice Department said yesterday that it is considering a break-up of Microsoft, the world's largest software company, after a judge found that the group had used its power to stifle innovation.
The comments are likely to fuel selling of Microsoft shares when trade restarts today, two day's after the ruling by US District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson.
Speaking on "This Week", a US television programme, Assistant Attorney General Joel Klein said: "That [a break-up] is in the range but we're looking at a lot of remedies."
Observers said that Judge Jackson's sometimes indignant tone towards Microsoft's behaviour left little doubt he would consider tough penalties.
"All the remedy alternatives are open, including what many people said three months ago was unthinkable," said Glenn Manishin, who helped write a study of Microsoft earlier this year for a trade association that endorsed a breakup. "It's very thinkable now."
The government "has to be emboldened to ask for about the toughest penalties you can see," said Robert Litan, a former senior Justice Department official, now at the Brookings Institution.
"It is more likely than not that it will ask for a breakup of the company in some form."
Judge Jackson stopped short of saying that Microsoft violated anti-trust laws, although his factual findings suggest he is likely to reach that conclusion next year.
The judge will then decide what remedies to impose on Microsoft.
Judge Jackson, who presided over 77 days of testimony, late on Friday declared Microsoft a monopolist whose aggression stifled innovation and hurt consumers by limiting choices and keeping its software prices high.
The judge wrote some high-tech innovations "that would truly benefit consumers never occur for the sole reason that they do not coincide with Microsoft's self interest".
The harm to consumers, he added, was "immediate and easily discernible".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments