States seek pared-down Windows

States have told the court they have a better remedy

Nine US states, who are holding out against the US government's settlement with Microsoft, have asked a US district court judge to impose stricter sanctions against the software giant.

The states on Friday pushed for Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to require Microsoft to offer a pared-down version of its Windows operating system (OS).

Massachusetts' Reilly has said the federal governments' deal is riddled with loopholes

Such a version of the system may lop off features such as video and audio players, instant messaging and even the popular Internet Explorer web browser.

It was the inclusion of the Internet Explorer that caused the federal government to pursue its case against Microsoft to begin with.

Extreme proposal

In submitting their 40-page argument before Judge Kollar-Kotelly, the states also asked that Microsoft be required to make its software compatible with software developed by other firms, including rival Java.

That would require Microsoft to make its Windows source code available to other software makers - something the software giant is strongly against.

The protesting states want the judge to consider their proposal as an alternative to the settlement hammered out by the federal government.

Microsoft called the states' demands, which go beyond the deal struck with the federal government in November, "extreme".

"The settlement we reached with the Department of Justice is good for consumers and will be good for the economy," Microsoft said in a written statement, mirroring comments it made following the previous Justice Department's decision.

'Riddled with loopholes'

The holdout states, which include California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah and West Virginia as well as the District of Columbia, have said the government's settlement is riddled with loopholes that would allow Microsoft to continue its discriminatory ways.

The states argue that such measures are necessary in order to keep Microsoft from punishing computer makers who fail to include all the components Microsoft makes for its operating system.

And it would put the onus on the software giant to ensure that software manufactured by other firms would be Windows compatible.

Under the settlement put forward by the US government in early November, Microsoft would be prevented from retaliating against computer manufacturers and software rivals who bring out competing products, and must deal with licensing partners on uniform terms.

Imposed oversight

Additionally, a panel of three independent monitors would be required to work onsite at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, to oversee the firm's conduct and review its accounts.

Also, Microsoft would also be obliged to provide rival software firms with information to allow them to develop competing software programs that interact with the Windows OS.

In making its decision known, the Department of Justice said the restrictions it would impose upon Microsoft would halt the firm's unlawful conduct and restore competition in the software market.

In implementing its limits on Microsoft's behaviour, US Attorney John Ashcroft said the settlement would provide "prompt, effective and certain relief for consumers and businesses".

The restrictions would be imposed for five years, and could be extended for another two years if Microsoft failed to follow the terms.