Or does it appear that they are going to make Microsoft pay for breaking anti-trust laws and harming competitors and thus, consumers and innovation.
Now that Microsoft is changing it's stance on the icon issue again, will that add more fuel to the DoJ's dislike of Microsoft's strong-arm tactics? Anyone who thought Microsoft would no longer abuse their monopoly position can now rest assured that they will, Court of Appeals be damned.

[link|http://www.computerworld.com/storyba/0,4125,NAV47_STO62678,00.html?OpenDocument&~f|
Experts: DOJ pressing ahead on Microsoft case]

By PATRICK THIBODEAU
(July 30, 2001)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When President Bush took office last January, supporters of the government's antitrust case against Microsoft Corp. feared that the new administration would seek an easy settlement. But legal experts on both sides of the fight said today that they see little difference so far between the current administration and the Clinton administration that initiated the historic lawsuit.

The Justice Department "has determined to press ahead in a very vigorous way," said Kenneth Starr, a former judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, which heard the case, and the prosecutor who led the Whitewater probe that ultimately uncovered President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky.

Starr, who is now advising ProComp, a trade group that includes Microsoft competitors backing the government's case, cited a government filing earlier this month seeking expedited action as evidence (see story). In it, the U.S. Department of Justice and 19 states wrote, "Delay in imposing an effective remedy inflicts substantial and widespread consumer injury and needlessly prolongs uncertainty in the computer industry."

Thanks for bringing it up. Microsoft has made many enemies outside the software world and many of their newly-made enemies have brick and mortar power. The next few months could get interesting as the b&M's align themselves with the new-economy players.