Microsoft settlement public comments released
C|Net | at | by Mike
In the report filed with U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the Justice Department said it had received 30,000 responses, 1,250 unrelated to the case. Roughly half the comments were against the settlement, 7,500 were in favor of the deal, and 7,000 expressed no sentiment either way.
Kollar-Kotelly must carefully deal with two different cases starting on parallel paths but winding toward different destinations. The settlement, which would span five years, calls for some restrictions on Microsoft's business practices under the review of a three-member oversight committee.
Both Gray and Stanton are convinced Kollar-Kotelly will hold off ruling on the settlement until after she concludes the remedy hearing in ongoing litigation. Microsoft and the non-settling states go back to court March 11 for a hearing, from which the judge will craft a remedy. But given the number of witnesses scheduled to appear, that proceeding could wind on for a month or more.