The top antitrust official at the U.S. Justice Department last month backed Microsoft by urging state prosecutors to reject a confidential complaint filed by Google.

Google accused Microsoft of designing its Vista operating system to discourage use of Google’s desktop search program, lawyers involved in the case told the Times.

State officials told the NY Times that a memo by Thomas Barnett, an assistant attorney general, rejected the Google complaint, repeating legal arguments made by Microsoft.

The article said the memo was sent to state attorneys general around the United States and alarmed many of them, with some state officials saying they believed Google’s complaint had merit.

The New York Times said the action demonstrates that nearly a decade after the U.S. government began its landmark effort to break up Microsoft, the Bush administration has changed course by defending the company against accusations of anti-competitive conduct.

Surprise, surprise.



  1. Victor says:

    So now it is Bushes fault?

  2. venom monger says:

    So now it is Bushes fault?

    You must be new around here.

    And by “around here” I mean “the real world”.

  3. Lauren the Ghoti says:

    WHAT??

    You mean to say that the #1 administration in America history for cheerleading and enabling sharp, underhanded business practices and unbridled greed is standing up in defense of the company that’s the #1 poster child for those same practices and that same greed??

    I’m shocked, shocked…

  4. OhForTheLoveOf says:

    Honestly… I don’t care about this story because it falls outside my care buffer.

    However, I have to say that I love the image above the post. That’s adorable 🙂

  5. moss says:

    Also a good opportunity for AG’s who’re cranking up to run for governor.

  6. MikeN says:

    So did Microsoft build into its TCP stack an internal DNS that redirects google.com to MS? Building their own search function isn’t antitrust, and they should be given plenty of leeway.

  7. Justsaying says:

    Btw, if you wish to keep your privacy, you’d better wait until theres a functioning third party software firewall before using Vista.

  8. Matthew says:

    #7 FTA “Google accused Microsoft of designing its Vista operating system to discourage use of Google’s desktop search program”

    That’s all we get from that source…

  9. KVolk says:

    So if Microsoft coun ter sues Google or just finds something to sue to sue Google then what is the over/under for total litigation costs? I say $50 million.

  10. KVolk says:

    Don’t sue me for my typing skills or lack there of….

  11. BW says:

    Sounds like the good old days of DOS where Micorsoft’s mantra was “DOS ain’t done till Lotus won’t run”.

  12. Docred says:

    Sounds to me like the legal services on either side of the quibbling are going to be the big winners regardless of anything else 🙂

  13. Frank IBC says:

    Not necessarily a “course change”.

    The reality is that Google now the 800-pound gorilla; Microsoft is just a 600-pound gorilla now.


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