News

U.S. Government Joins Microsoft Against States

The 2002 consent decree that partially governs Microsoft's actions about its monopolistic business practices was originally supposed to expire today. But Redmond is currently locked in a battle with a coalition of states that want to see federal oversight extended for another half-decade.

On Friday, Microsoft picked up an ally -- the very same government. The U.S. Department of Justice joined Microsoft in its attempt to persuade U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly that the consent decree has done its job and should expire this month.

At issue is the antitrust settlement that followed the Court's original finding that Microsoft had unfairly stifled competition through its Windows monopoly. Among other things, the decree stipulates that Windows development is supervised by a technical committee, and ensures that rivals have an even playing field. The current deadline was moved from today until Jan. 31 of next year.

The DOJ's brief argues that the states' rationale for extending the decree are illogical and even contradict their own past claims. The group of 17 states are led, as they have been throughout, by California and New York (called "Movants" in the brief). "The California and New York Movants advance inadequate and mutually inconsistent arguments to justify extension of the Final Judgments; both state groups argue theories, moreover, that are directly contravened by the states' own past statements and actions," the document states.

The brief argues a number of points, but the main argument it asserts is that the original consent decree was properly adhered to by Microsoft. In fact, the DOJ asserts, even some of the contesting states have said as much. "As the New York Group informed the Court two months ago, the Final Judgments "have achieved [their] goals" and "are enabling the competition they are designed to protect." The California Movants do not provide any evidence that the goals of the expiring provisions of the Final Judgments have not been achieved, when those goals are properly considered in light of the Court of Appeals decision and this Court's ruling. Accordingly, there is no legal basis upon which to seek such an extension," it reads.

The states have until Friday to respond to Microsoft and the DOJ's latest briefs.

About the Author

Keith Ward is the editor in chief of Virtualization & Cloud Review. Follow him on Twitter @VirtReviewKeith.

Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.