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STATEMENTS REGARDING THE MICROSOFT DECISION

WASHINGTON, D.C. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division Charles James today issued the following statements regarding today's Microsoft decision:

Attorney General John Ashcroft:

• "Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued its opinion in the Microsoft case. I am pleased to say that the Court unanimously found that Microsoft engaged in unlawful conduct to maintain its dominant position in computer operating systems. This is a significant victory. I want to applaud the hard work of the men and women of the Antitrust Division and the Solicitor General''s office--from the prosecutors and economists to the paralegals--who have worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people. I also want to thank the State Attorneys General who have worked side by side with the Department on this matter."

Assistant Attorney General Charles James:

• "Today's decision represents a very significant victory for the Antitrust Division on the core claim in the case- that Microsoft engaged in anti-competitive conduct to preserve its monopoly in computer operating systems. A unanimous Court has concluded that Microsoft has monopoly power and has acted unlawfully to preserve that power. The Court of Appeals, however, sent the case back to the District Court for further proceedings on the tying claim and the remedy. The decision is both long and complex. Our immediate task will be to digest the decision and to decide our future course of action."

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