They did not get that. Microsoft competitors also were quick to join the party. A long way to go Of course, the ongoing antitrust trial has a long way to go before the software giant comes under any kind of irrevocable penalty. Only at that point will the court decide what penalty it should impose. Jackson has consistently been outspoken about trying to bring the trial to a speedy conclusion, however.
Observers say prosecutors can seek a one-time structural change, or take a regulatory approach.
Justice Department antitrust division chief Joel Klein has in the past expressed a preference for one-time solutions that avoid continuing oversight. That approach has been endorsed by former Judge Robert Bork, an antitrust expert who advocates breaking the company into three pieces. I don't think trying to control their conduct by a decree is likely to be enough. Another structural approach would effectively divide the company into two separate businesses, putting one in control of the operating system and another to create applications, such as Microsoft Word. Microsoft argues there is no clear line defining where the operating system stops and other functions start.