(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste today submitted comments regarding U.S. v Microsoft in compliance with the Tunney Act.  On Nov. 6, 2001, Microsoft reached a proposed settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and nine states in the long-running antitrust lawsuit. Under a federal antitrust law called the Tunney Act, there is a 60-day period for public comment before the U.S. District Court decides whether to accept the settlement. 

CAGW's comments favoring the settlement and opposing further litigation were submitted on behalf of its one million members and supporters nationwide.  Many CAGW members sent their own comments to DOJ.  The letter signed by CAGW President Tom Schatz made the following points:

The current settlement proposal is fair to all sides in the case, including:

• Microsoft, which will continue to be able to provide new software that integrates new products;
• Competitors, who will have more access to the Windows platform to incorporate their products or make them compatible;
• Software manufacturers, who will get back to the business of creating innovative products;
• Consumers, who will have more choices among software products; and,
• Investors, who will have stability in the marketplace.

This lengthy litigation has cost taxpayers more than $35 million, and after reviewing the terms of the Judgment, final approval is clearly in the public interest.  It has also hobbled one of America's premier high-tech engines of growth at a time when the economy needs a jump-start. 

The settling states will avoid additional costs and now be able to focus their time and resources on matters of far greater national significance – the war against terrorism, including homeland security.  Most importantly, this settlement is fair to computer users and consumers of America, on whose behalf the lawsuit was allegedly filed.  This endless litigation benefits only Microsoft's competitors.

The full comments are available on CAGW's website: http://www.cagw.org

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.