Judge Kollar-Kotelly asked both sides in the States-versus-Micro$oft hearings to, in their summaries, discuss possible compromises in their positions.
The states complied, ranking in importance the various remedies they’re seeking.
Micro$oft’s lawyers basically said, “Screw you.”
Yeah, that was smart.
The M$ position is that they compromised as far as they possibly could in their sweeheart deal with the DoJ. “We have been through this. We negotiated. We went as far as we can go,” their lead counsel said. “That’s the deal.”
No … the “deal” in this case is not what they can browbeat a business-friendly DoJ into, but what the federal judge who has to agree to the settlement says the “deal” is.
M$ may feel that by standing their ground, by continuing their corporate behavior as “We set the rules, you follow them” in court, they won’t have to give up anything.
Here’s hoping they learn just how wrong they are.