Judge approves Microsoft antitrust settlement

A federal judge yesterday approved most of the provisions of an anti-trust settlement between Microsoft and the US Justice Department, largely setting aside concerns by nine states that the sanctions were too light on the software giant.

The sanctions are to last for at least five years unless extended by the court, the judge said.

The approved settlement requires Microsoft to disclose some sensitive technology to its rivals months earlier than had been proposed.

The US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote: "The court is satisfied that the parties have reached a settlement which comports with the public interest."

Microsoft said it was reviewing the decision. Its spokesman said:"We are committed to resolving these issues in a constructive way so that we can focus on long-term growth and innovation for consumers."

The ruling eliminates the establishment of a technical committee to assess Microsoft's compliance with the deal. In its place, a corporate compliance committee will ensure Microsoft lives up to the deal.

Microsoft was found to have violated anti-trust laws, illegally maintaining its monopoly over software operating systems by strong-arming competitors. An appeals court threw out an order that would break the company in two, leaving Judge Kollar-Kotelly to decide how Microsoft should be punished.