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From ENT Magazine: Judge Calls 3-Way Split of Microsoft "Excellent," Reports Say
Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson hinted that Microsoft Corp. should be split into three separate companies, not two as the Justice Department originally proposed, according to published sources.
Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson hinted that Microsoft Corp. should be split into three separate companies, not two as the Justice Department originally proposed, according to published sources.
Jackson called third-party breakup proposals which called for a three-way split of Microsoft "excellent," according to CNN.com. The proposal calls for Microsoft to be divided into one company handling operating systems, one handling Office and other software, and a third handling Internet properties such as MSN, CNET News reports.
Additionally, CNN.com reports that Judge Jackson said that he will hold no more hearings regarding the breakup, indicating that he may be close to handing down a decision. He has asked the Justice Department for a revised breakup proposal by Friday, and Microsoft will have 48 hours to review the plan. A decision could come as early as Tuesday, says CNN.
Judge Jackson's three-way breakup plan comes after questions arose on whether a two-way split would actually foster competition or simply create two powerful monopolies. - Isaac Slepner
(This report is also published on ENT Magazine's News site at http://www.entmag.com/breaknews.asp?ID=2701.)