Microsoft awaits breakup ruling in DoJ antitrust case

Microsoft wrapped up its defence in its antitrust trial on a high note, claiming it merely competes aggressively without violating antitrust laws.

Microsoft wrapped up its defence in its antitrust trial on a high note, claiming it merely competes aggressively without violating antitrust laws.

The company's fate is now in the hands of US District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, who is expected to issue a final ruling within weeks.

At the end of the trial Microsoft seemed elevated by some of the Judge's comments. Later in the week, the company was further encouraged when a key advisor to the court, Harvard Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig, said he did not think a break-up of the company made sense.

Lessig said: "Breaking up Microsoft doesn't seem logical to me, but it does to the government."

In contrast, William Kovacic, a law professor at George Washington University, claimed that from the wording of Judge Jackson's findings of fact in November, it is likely he will find Microsoft in violation of federal antitrust statutes.

But the outcome is still hard to predict. Kovacic added that from the Judge's closing comments, "Judge Jackson does seem to be re-evaluating his opinions".