On November 6, 2001, Microsoft entered into a proposed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and nine State Attorneys General, designed to resolve the remaining liability findings in the government antitrust lawsuit. The proposed settlement was entered by the District Court on November 12, 2002. Prior to that time, Microsoft had agreed to abide by the terms of that decree pending approval. Since November 2001, Microsoft has been engaged in extensive efforts to meet the milestones established under the consent decree. The company's efforts against these milestones are summarized below with links provided to additional detail, as appropriate:
Client Middleware Choice
Under the terms of the Consent Decree, Microsoft will allow end users and OEMs to enable or remove access to certain Windows components or competing software (e.g., Internet browsers, media players, instant messaging clients, e-mail clients) and designate a competing product to be invoked in place of that Microsoft software. Modifications in Windows 2000 Professional SP3 & Windows XP SP1 enabled users to select default programs as well as select which programs are displayed on the Start Menu and other locations.
Windows 2000 SP3 shipped on August 1, 2002 and is available here Windows 2000 SP3.
Windows XP SP1 shipped on September 5, 2002 and is available here Windows XP SP1.
Technical Information Disclosure
Microsoft is disclosing and licensing technical information relating to Windows in two ways:
Client Middleware API documentation
Under Section III.D of the consent decree, Microsoft has disclosed the internal Windows interfaces that are called by "Microsoft Middleware" that is separately distributed to update Windows. These interfaces are made available for third parties to use solely to interoperate with Windows. Although the vast majority of interfaces used by these Windows components were already documented, Microsoft published approximately 290 new interfaces on the Microsoft Developer Network as Application Programming Interfaces ("APIs") that third party software developers may use.
Click here for information on these APIs.
For information about the Secure Audio Path (SAP) Library Licensing Program, click here.
Communications Protocol Program
Under Section III.E, Microsoft is making available on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms the protocols implemented in certain Windows desktop operating system products and used to interoperate or communicate natively with Microsoft server operating system products. Microsoft client and server operating systems use many standards-based and other published protocols to interoperate or communicate. In addition, like most other major operating system vendors, Microsoft client and server operating systems also use proprietary protocols to interoperate or communicate. Microsoft is now making available for license more than 110 proprietary protocols. These protocols will be licensed to third parties, on a royalty basis, to create server software that uses the protocols solely to interoperate or communicate with Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP and successor client operating systems. With access to this technology, licensees will have additional means to achieve interoperability between their servers and covered Windows desktops.
More information on the Communications Protocol Program is available here.
Inquiries and Complaints About Consent Decree Compliance
Under Section IV.D, third-parties may submit complaints concerning Microsoft's compliance with the Consent Decree. Microsoft has established on this website information how to submit a complaint or inquiry directly to Microsoft's Internal Compliance Officer. Go here to read the consent decree.
Go here for information on how to submit an inquiry about the Consent Decree, or submit a complaint to Microsoft's Internal Antitrust Compliance Officer if you believe Microsoft is not complying with the decree.
Please note this site is intended only to facilitate inquiries or complaints relating to compliance with the Consent Decree. If you have general questions, inquiries or comments about Microsoft's products or service unrelated to the Consent Decree, please use the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page.
