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Settlement Developments, Senate Panel Approves TPA
Microsoft filed its Proposed Final Judgment (PFJ) today, along with an explanatory brief and the company's response to the PFJ filed last Friday by the non-settling states.
The filing noted, in part, that the non-suing states' proposed remedies were "…substantially broader and much more onerous than the prior conduct provisions vacated by the Court of Appeals. The three examples (used in the brief) are just a sample of these entirely new provisions, which seem calculated to inflict maximum commercial harm on Microsoft. The principal beneficiaries of such provisions are not consumers, but rather the numerous Microsoft competitors found on the non-settling States' preliminary witness list."
For continuing information on the Settlement process, including how you can submit comments to the DoJ during the Tunney Act Review, go to the Freedom to Innovate Web site at www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate .
Senate Hearing Recesses
Today's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the proposed Settlement was recessed before all scheduled panelists were heard so that Senators could attend floor debate on another bill. Some Committee members had delivered their opening remarks, as had Antitrust Chief Charles James, who was responding to questions from the Committee, when the recess was announced.
Committee Chair Sen. Patrick Leahy has not indicated when the Hearing will reconvene; watch for a FINFLASH to apprise you of developments.
In the meantime, please take the opportunity of this unanticipated recess to let your public officials know how you feel about Settlement of the Microsoft antitrust matter. As always, you can contact your public officials on this and other matters of importance to Microsoft and the industry on the Freedom to Innovate Web site at www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate.
Senate Committee Approves TPA
The Senate Finance Committee has approved Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation that would give the President expanded ability to negotiate trade treaties. Passage comes on the heels of a narrow House victory for a similar bill last week and moves Congress closer to ending an 7-year impasse on the issue.
The full Senate is not expected to consider the measure until next year, although amendments to the bill may be considered sooner.
Passage of TPA remains a key initiative for Microsoft, which is critical to the continued growth of the high-tech industry and the economy in general.
If you'd like to contact public officials about this or other issues important to Microsoft and the industry, you can do so here at the Freedom to Innovate Web site.
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