Microsoft Lawyers Rest Their Case
Post | at | by Mike
In the annals of technology, Microsoft Corp. is famous for flubbing its first attempts at new software. But by dint of extraordinary resources and unflinching will, it learns from its errors, re-tools and re-invents until it succeeds. Now the company hopes the same formula has worked in its long-running battles with antitrust enforcers.
Yesterday, Microsoft's lawyers rested their case in the latest round of court hearings, held to determine how its violations of antitrust laws should be rectified. And though some oral arguments remain to be aired, it soon will be time for a judge to retire to chambers, to review a mass of evidence and testimony and to determine the software giant's fate.
If the courtroom demeanor of the judge is any indicator, Microsoft fared well, and certainly better than in its original trial two years ago. Battle-tested and deeply familiar with the technological complexities of the case, its attorneys won favor with the judge as she sustained objection after objection, preventing the states from putting damaging evidence about Microsoft's conduct into the record.