|
Legal Issues
Newsletters
Information
Industry and Innovation
 |
How to contact the FIN:
Microsoft Freedom to Innovate Network
16625 Redmond Way
Ste. M-447
Redmond, WA
98052-9724
call us at
1-888-321-3999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MICROSOFT AND SUN SHOW FRUITS OF ALLIANCE
NEW TECHNOLOGIES IMPROVE INTEROPERABILITY
|
In this issue of the FINFlash Update...
|
LEAD STORY: COLLABORATION BETWEEN SUN AND MICROSOFT SHOWS RESULTS
Just over a year ago, Microsoft and Sun settled their long-running legal dispute and agreed to work closely together on interoperability between the two companies’ technologies. In May, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Sun Chairman and CEO Scott McNealy announced new technology specifications that have been developed as a result of the alliance. Leading system integrators including Accenture, EDS and NEC praised the increased collaboration between Sun and Microsoft and the efforts to make their products interoperate better in large enterprises.
Read more...
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/05/13/HNsunmsagreement_1.html
LEGAL UPDATE: COMPLIANCE CONTINUES IN EUROPE AND THE U.S.
On May 31, Microsoft submitted a proposal to address issues raised by the Commission on the company’s implementation of antitrust sanctions in Europe. Microsoft is appealing the European Commission’s 2004 ruling against the company, but it must implement sanctions during the appeal. European regulators are allowing Microsoft’s rivals to review the proposal, but European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes welcomed Microsoft’s proposal: “I am happy that Microsoft has recognized certain principles which must underlie its implementation of the Commission’s decision.”
In the U.S., Microsoft and the Department of Justice participated in a regularly scheduled antitrust compliance status hearing with Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on June 6th. Microsoft and the antitrust compliance technical committee will be working together to address issues related to the communications protocol documentation. Renata Hesse, an antitrust attorney with the DOJ, said that these were “not issues of great severity, for the most part.”
Read more...
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/06/HNmstofixdocumentation_1.html
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NEWS: CONGRESS HOLDS HEARINGS ON PATENT REFORM
Both the House and Senate recently held hearings to examine the need to reform the U.S. patent system. Technology leaders, individual inventors, Yale University President Richard Levin and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office head Jon Dudas testified to the importance of patents in spurring innovation and economic growth, but suggested steps to improve our nation’s patent system. In March at a keynote speech in Washington, DC, Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith also praised the patent system, but called for reforms that respond to the fast pace of technological change. Congress is expected to draft patent reform legislation later this year.
Read the Testimony...
http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=1475
ANTI-SPAM NEWS: MASSACHUSETTS AG FILES SUIT TO STOP ALLEGED SPAMMERS
Last month, Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly filed suit against an alleged spam ring that he identified during a joint press conference with Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith as one of the “biggest in the world.” As part of the suit, a Massachusetts judge entered an emergency order to immediately shut down several websites and two Internet companies tied to the spam operation. Microsoft assisted the Massachusetts’ attorney general’s office with the investigation.
Read more...
http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=163101239
TECH TIP: SUMMERTIME, KIDS AND COMPUTERS
Communities around the country are enrolling kids for computer camps right now. Even if your children don’t head for computer camp, they can surf safely using special kids portals like MSN Kidz.
Head for MSN Kidz...
http://kids.msn.com/
Learn about staying safe online...
http://www.staysafeonline.info/
Need help writing your legislator? You can find tips for communicating with legislators, along with news, tech policy information and more, at the Freedom to Innovate Network Web site: www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate/
Back to top
Write us with your tips, trivia and FIN Pulse suggestions at: msfin@microsoft.com
And remember, it’s never too late to write your legislators to let them know what issues are important to you. To identify and email your legislators, visit: www.freetoinnovate.com
To view Microsoft's privacy policy, please go to: http://www.microsoft.com/info/privacy.mspx
Legal Information. http://www.microsoft.com/info/legalinfo/default.mspx
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What are Microsoft's Policy Priorities? |
|
|
|
Cyber Security
Privacy
Combating Spam
Intellectual Property
Spyware
Children's Online Safety
Internet Neutrality
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to join the FIN!