Massachusetts may appeal judge's Microsoft ruling
Yahoo | at | by Mike
At least one of the nine states suing Microsoft for antitrust violations, Massachusetts, is leaning toward appealing a judge's rejection of their proposed harsh sanctions in favor of a more lenient settlement, say people familiar with the matter. Massachusetts officials could still change course by Monday, the deadline for states to notify the court if they intend to appeal. But Massachusetts officials recently told officials of the other states that they stand ready to appeal -- alone if they must.
The states are divided. Some say Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly's Nov. 1 ruling does nothing to pry open the personal computer operating system market to competition. They might join an appeal. Others, pressed by tight state budgets, are reluctant to fund a long-shot appeal and would rather put resources into monitoring Microsoft's settlement compliance.