AOL Time Warner Files Anti-Trust Suit against MS

ChazeFroy writes "This article at the Washington Post says that AOL Time Warner has filed a suit against Microsoft seeking damages from anti-competitive practices over the Netscape browser." Can't say I'm surprised.

Hipocritical

[zhar]

Is it just me or does the world's largest media company filing against the world's largest software company seem just a bit hipocritical?

Darn it

[NiftyNews]

Man, this is a perfect time to buy stock in that Lawyers Mutual Fund.

If such a fund did exist, it would be skyrocketing every day of the week. Hey Vanguard, you listening?

Re:Better luck

[nomadic]

If we're lucky, they'll sue each other into oblivion.

Quandry!

[KFury]

Can't.. decide! ... Who's more... evil!

Can we axe them both, and start over with Yahoo!?

Pot calls kettle black...

[Skyshadow]

...film at 11.

Personally, AOL-TW scares me more than Microsoft; they've got that whole scary media empire thing going in addition to a large army of idiot users, whereas Microsoft only has a much smaller number of MCSEs (aka, professional dummies) to answer back with.

Here's the story on MSNBC.

[Tasty Beef Jerky]

I didn't actually read it. Something tells me it's chock-full of unbiased journalism and ethical reporting. Yes, this long link is indeed intentional. [msnbc.com]

poll idea!

[jeffy124]

The articles I've seen on this state that Netscape is seeking unspecified damages from MS. Idea for a /. poll:

How much should Microsoft pay Netscape in damages?
- $0-$99,999
- $100,000-$999,999
- $1,000,000-$9,999,999
- Bill Gates's Estate
- CowboyNeal's Life Savings

Re:I am in favor of this suit.

[LordNimon]

In 1981, 640K was enough for everyone. I think you need to go back to high school and learn the concept of verb tenses, specifically the difference between the present tense and the future tense.

The Washington Post??

[jonestor]

The Washington Post?

Ah well, I knew it was too good to be true.

Re:how does this compare...

[stevew]

Think about it a second. Can you say "Slam dunk!"

MS already has a judgement against them on the basis of this case - it's almost a matter of - How much can we take ol' Billy Boy for?

I kinda like it.

On the bright side...

[cgreuter]

at least one of them will lose.

I've got a remedy

[Waffle Iron]

The remedy that I'd be most happy with is if Microsoft were forced to send out programmers to fix every website on the Internet that uses JavaScript in a way that only works on IE.

Of course, they'd be exempt from fixing website code that actually conforms to a published standard. Maybe the punitive damages would be to make them fix Mozilla and Konqueror so that they correctly implement the standards as well.

I'm getting really tired of having to try 3 different browsers before I can get through an online purchase.

sour grapes

[spoonyfork]

If AOL bought RHAT, would Alan Cox leave in a huff and start a new club in downtown Durham, NC called RNA?

Durnit! I'm 2 stories behind...

Just delighted.

[Anonymous Coward]

As a former netscapee, I can't say but I'm delighted to see this happen.

As a current slashdotter, I'm just delighted to see anything bad happen to the borg.

Re:Hello Pot?

[Telal]

"Pot? I'm here to serve a summons on you on behalf of our client, Kettle..."

BAH!

[FoxIVX]

Dear Netscape,
Please make a browser that doesn't suck, and I will use it.

Thank you,
-The World

Re:Here's what's really going on

[Winged Cat]

So...if AOLTW wins, but MS manages to fight it all the way to the Supremes, using their usual legal stalling tactics, such that AOLTW files for bankruptcy and dissolves just as it extracts so much money from MS that MS has to do likewise...

For once, there might be a silver lining to the cloud of huge legal bills.

One less nightmare

[markmoss]

I used to think that when the judge finally called up Microsoft to announce the final decision breaking them up, they'd answer the phone "Microsoft-AOL-TimeWarner-Disney-RCA-CBS-Fox-GE-GM -Boeing-UnitedStatesofAmerica..."

this is the way the trial goes, the trial goes...

[nege]

Pre Trial
Trial
Guilty
Appeal
overturned
Repeat

Possible timeframe

[DocSnyder]

• Apr 2002: Court decision whether the lawsuit will be accepted.
  
  
• Aug 2002: Call for both sides to file documents about their position until Dec 2002.
  
  
• Nov 2002: Microsoft seeks the deadline to be postponed until May 2003 as more documents have to be prepared.
  
  
• Dec 2002: Court rejects Microsoft's effort but nonetheless postpones the deadline until Feb 2003.
  
  
• Feb 2003: Both AOL and Microsoft file their documents.
  
  
• Mar 2003: Some independent research institutes compare Mozilla and MSIE, with the latter winning hands down.
  
  
• May 2003: An internal Microsoft memo has been leaked, dating Jan 2003 and proposing an independent research which should show MSIE as the clear winner, to be published in spring time 2003.
  
  
• Jun 2003: Court calls for testimonials. Both parties have to file a list of people they wish to testify until Sep 2003.
  
  
• Aug 2003: Microsoft asks for postponement as they want to have some more people testify. Court rejects but permits to file the list until Oct 2003.
  
  
• Dec 2003: Court announces testimonials to begin Apr 2004.
  
  
• May 2004: A video of Steve Ballmer has been shown on court. Asked about some emails he wrote about Netscape, he asks what they mean a web browser would be.
  
  
• Jul 2004: Time for Bill Gates' testimonial. Bill Gates is absent, sending Al Bundy to court, hoping no one will notice the difference. The judge doesn't, but some of the attourneys do, and Microsoft regrets a "big mistake in using the wrong address database".
  
  
• Feb 2005: Finding of facts published. Microsoft is guilty of having abused their monopoly to achieve domination of the browser market. Both parties have to file proposals about possible remedies until Jun 2005.
  
  
• May 2005: AOL proposes Microsoft to split into one enterprise for browser development and a different one for bashing of competitors. Microsoft protests.
  
  
• Jun 2005: Microsoft proposes to donate software worth $10bn to schools and universities. AOL protests.
  
  
• Oct 2005: Court rules Microsoft having engaged in anti-competitive practices and orders Microsoft to remove the "features" preventing MSIE to connect to AOL web sites, even if they dare to include a non-Microsoft operating system and a non-Microsoft browser with their CDs.
  
  
• Dec 2005: Microsoft asks the Supreme Court for the ruling to be overturned.
  
  
• Jun 2006: Supreme Court rejects.
  
  
• Oct 2006: AOL and Microsoft launch a common campaign against GNU, Google and Galeon which taken over a large market share while they were busy with each other on court...
  
  

Re:Hipocritical

[vondo]

Now I'm enlightened! Six companies make just about every car sold in the U.S., ergo GM has a monopoly on cars!

Godzilla Vs. Mothra

[broter]

• This is like watching your two least favorite football teams...

Actually, I was thinking of my favorite Godzilla movie, cause no matter who wins, you know Tokyo is going to be decimated :)

Re:Press Release

[Hack Shoeboy]

I was just thinking that (1*damages) is probably pretty big so (3*damages) would be a pretty nice sum. Microsoft probably has (damages^3) tucked away, though.

Actually, Microsoft has a charmed bag of holding with 10000 g.p. and 250000 s.p., and their +4 broadsource does treble damage when they cast "Market Penetration." Defensively, their "Cloak of DOJ" gives an AC of -14, with another -2 if they're casting "FUD."