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STATE AGs SPLIT ON IMPACT OF MICROSOFT SETTLEMENT
DOJ AND SOME AGs VOICE SUPPORT, OTHER AGs ARE CRITICAL
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In this issue of the FINFlash Update...
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LEAD STORY: DOJ, STATES FILE REPORTS ON EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSENT DECREE
On August 30, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), state attorneys general and Microsoft filed reports on the effectiveness of the US Consent Decree with the U.S. District Court overseeing the company’s antitrust compliance. The filings revealed that some, but not all, of the states that appealed the settlement remain unsatisfied with the level of competition in the marketplace. However, the DoJ and other states have determined that the settlement has been effective. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly will review the filings during a scheduled status hearing on September 11. While some provisions of the antitrust settlement expire later this year, Microsoft has instituted a policy, the Windows Principles, to ensure fair competition and customer choice in the Windows ecosystem going forward.
Read more
www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3690136
Windows Principles
www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/winxp/WindowsPrinciples.mspx
POLICY NEWS: MASSACHUSETTS APPROVES USE OF OFFICE OPEN XML
On August 1, the Massachusetts Information Technology Division (ITD) published the final version of a technology policy called the Enterprise Technical Reference Model (ETRM) v. 4.0. Under the policy, Office Open XML (Open XML) file formats meet state requirements, which mandate that government agencies use open file formats for document creation and retention. An open international standard that can be implemented by any party, Open XML is the default file format of the 2007 Microsoft Office System, works with Office 2003, XP, 2000, and is backward compatible with older Microsoft binary file formats. Thank you to all FIN members who voiced their support for this updated policy. Meanwhile, many other software vendors are implementing Open XML in their products, including Apple, which supports Open XML in the iPhone and in its new iWorks software.
Read more...
www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2165265,00.asp
INTEROP NEWS: MICROSOFT AND CISCO TO WORK TOGETHER ON INTEROPERABILITY
On August 20, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers made a joint public appearance for the first time to discuss how the two companies are working together. While the companies will continue to compete in several areas of technology such as unified communications and network security, they are cooperating to meet their customers’ needs for interoperability. The collaboration will focus on providing innovation and interoperability in seven areas: IT architecture, security, systems management, wireless and mobile solutions, unified communications, connected entertainment, and solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Read more...
www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3695361
CALENDAR ALERT: SEPTEMBER WILL SEE KEY LEGAL AND POLICY DEVELOPMENTS
September is a busy month in the legal and policy arenas. On Sept. 2, initial balloting closes on the fast track voting by the International Organization for Standardization for approval of Open XML as an ISO standard. (Open XML has already been standardized by another standards body, Ecma International.) In addition to the U.S. District Court Status Hearing discussed above, a South Korean court is expected to issue a ruling on Microsoft’s appeal against South Korean competition regulators. Finally, Sept. 17 is the day that the European Court of First Instance (CFI) will issue its ruling in the European competition case. Look for a mid-month FIN Alert on this story.
TECH TIP: BACK TO SCHOOL HELP
The end of summer and the start of school can be stressful for kids and parents alike. Fortunately, the Web is filled with resources to help you hit the ground running. MSN Encarta has done a nice job putting together its “K-12 Success” portal, where kids can find homework help, practice tests, study tips, and more. Parents can learn how to help their kids succeed, post questions to a message board, and plan for college. Check it out at:
http://encarta.msn.com/hubpages_K12Success/K12Success.html
TAKE THE NEW TECH TRIVIA CHALLENGE
Test your knowledge -- or your online searching ability -- by taking our Tech Trivia Challenge. (Try Windows Live Search at www.live.com/.)
The term “bug” -- meaning, a technical glitch -- actually pre-dates computers. But an early computer did fail because of a real bug in the equipment. What was this first computer bug?
- Silkworm
- Boll weevil
- Cicada
- Firefly
- Moth
To submit your answer and view the answer to the previous question, visit
www.freetoinnovate.com/ssl/techTrivia.asp
THE FIN PULSE
The FIN Pulse is an informal online poll that lets FIN members see how others use technology and think about policy issues.
This month, we ask, “What one factor do you think has the greatest impact in making a nation an innovation leader?”
Go to www.freetoinnovate.com to participate in the FIN Pulse.
Do you have a great tech trivia question that will stump FIN members? Send it to us (together with a verifiable answer by emailing msfin@microsoft.com.
For Top Stories and Tech Headlines, updated weekly, visit the FIN Web site:
www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate/
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
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: http://www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate/
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