Judge Blasts Microsoft’s Antitrust ‘Foot-Dragging’

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly accused Microsoft of “foot-dragging” in its efforts to develop technical documentation for licensees of the Microsoft Communications Protocol Program, part of its antitrust settlement with the U.S. government, CNET News.com reports.

The U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) recently expressed similar concerns.

The program was meant to even the playing field between Microsoft and other third-party developers looking to build server software that interacts with Windows, CNET News.com reports.  Microsoft says there are 26 companies that currently license the protocol, and more than ten products are available that use the technology, according to CNET News.com

The DOJ recently accused Microsoft of allowing unresolved problems with the documentation initiative to build up and fester, impeding delivery to licensees.

Kollar-Kotelly told Microsoft she expects this to change.  “I want to emphasize that I do expect the backlog to be reduced,” she said.

Microsoft said it’s doing its best to provide the appropriate documentation, and Charles Rue, a company attorney, said its recent offer to make Windows source code publicly available should be taken as a sign of good faith in its intentions to comply with government orders.

“I don’t know if it’s fear or love, but it’s a question of something Microsoft knows it has to do and will do,” Rue told the Judge Kollar-Kotelly.

For more on Microsoft’s source code offer, read Microsoft to License Windows Source Code and EU Commish Surprised by MS Source Code Offer.

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