http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1635317.stmFriday, 2 November, 2001, 23:08 GMT
Microsoft rivals blast 'toothless' deal
Consumer groups and Microsoft's competitors have hit out at the US Justice Department (DoJ) for not coming down hard enough on the software giant.
It doesn't punish Microsoft for past behaviour, it just tells them to quit doing what they shouldn't be doing
James Love, US consumer championThe final details of the anti-trust sanctions to be taken against Microsoft have yet to emerge after both parties agreed to settle out of court on Friday.
But the proposed DoJ settlement has already been branded 'toothless' and a 'sell-out' by the trade body representing some of Microsoft's biggest competitors.
It is clear the proposal will not deter Microsoft's illegal behaviour or prevent it from leveraging its operating system monopoly into markets for other products and services
Computer and Communications Industry AssociationAOL Time Warner, whose Netscape product was at the heart of the US government's original court action against Microsoft, has said the proposed sanctions against the software giant would be too easily evaded.
While Sun Microsystems has said it does not think the proposed settlement goes far enough.
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