Sun Sees Threat in Microsoft .Net
A Sun Microsystems Inc. executive warned a federal judge Tuesday that archrival Microsoft Corp. could use its Web-based services strategy to thwart competition and extend its monopoly power to the Internet.
Sun’s chief strategy officer, Jonathan Schwartz, said that unless tougher antitrust restrictions are imposed on Microsoft, it can use its Windows operating system monopoly and dominant Internet Explorer Web browser to promote the Web strategy, known as .Net, over competitors such as Sun’s Java programming language.
“The Internet is largely built on open standards, but Microsoft’s control of the ubiquitous operating system, combined with its ownership of the dominant browser and promotion of .Net Passport, means that it could lock end users in to a Microsoft-controlled world,” Schwartz said in written testimony to U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
The judge turned down a Microsoft request that she throw out Schwartz’s testimony about Web services because it was based on predictions of future Microsoft behavior.
Kollar-Kotelly initially expressed concern about testimony at the remedy hearings that covers technology not raised in the original trial. But recently, Kollar-Kotelly has been inclined to allow the material, with the caution that she may ultimately decide it is not relevant.
On Tuesday, the judge quoted a Supreme Court ruling that “drafting an antitrust decree involves predictions” in turning down Microsoft’s request.
Schwartz was the 13th witness called by nine states seeking tougher antitrust remedies against Microsoft for illegally maintaining its Windows monopoly.
The nine states have rejected a proposed settlement of the case reached between Microsoft and the Justice Department in November.
Sun has accused the world’s biggest software company of trying to sabotage Java. Microsoft, in turn, accuses Sun of promoting the government antitrust suit as a way to gain a commercial advantage. Microsoft maintains that Java is a computer product threatened by its own shortcomings rather than any anti-competitive behavior by Microsoft.
Spokesmen for Microsoft released a statement Tuesday accusing Sun of trying to slow down the .Net initiative because the company is “late to the game on Web services.”
The states want antitrust sanctions requiring that Microsoft sell a “modular” version of Windows with add-on “middleware” features that are removable. They said the requirement would give computer makers a free hand to customize the machines they sell.
