ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT STATEMENT ON THE
U.S. v. MICROSOFT COURT DECISION

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice issued the following statement today after the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia issued its decisions approving the settlement between the United States and Microsoft.

"The Department is pleased with the court's decision approving the Department's settlement with Microsoft. That decision confirms that the Final Judgment furthers the public interest by fully and effectively addressing Microsoft's unlawful conduct and restoring the competitive conditions in the computer software industry."

"The court's decision is a major victory for consumers and businesses who can immediately take advantage of the Final Judgment's provisions. The Final Judgment provides certainty and stability to the vital computer sector of our economy and creates an environment where companies will be encouraged to develop and deploy new middleware technologies with full confidence that their efforts will not be impeded by anticompetitive practices. In fact, Microsoft has already modified its licensing practices to permit computer manufacturers to substitute competing middleware products for those provided as part of its operating system, modified its new XP operating system, and begun to release important interfaces and protocols that will enable third-parties to develop products and services that will interoperate with Windows."

"The Department is strongly committed to ensuring that Microsoft complies with the Final Judgment and will continue to closely monitor Microsoft's implementation of its terms."

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