Sun Microsystems, which testified as a government witness, said Microsoft should not be allowed to buy companies that would expand its reach into new technologies, and the company should be required to publish key private technical details about its products. But although Jackson's passionate embrace of the Justice Department's view of Microsoft's malfeasance is a good indicator of where he stands, Microsoft's adversaries will likely have a long time to wait. Jackson probably won't reach a final verdict until next year, and the Supreme Court may not rule until 2003 on whether Microsoft really did violate antitrust laws after all. William Neukom, Microsoft's general counsel, told Wired News earlier this year he expected a ruling from Jackson around January 2000. If both parties don't settle and the case heads for the Supreme Court, the assumption is that the court will agree to hear the case.
Experts say that's particularly likely if the government loses.
Once the case reaches the high court, and if the justices decide to take it, add an additional delay of 1.5-2 years. Knotty cases are usually decided toward the end of the court's term, which means the Supreme Court might well rule on it in late June 2002 or 2003. Wired Digital Inc. All rights reserved.