During a Tuesday press conference, Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked federal and state trustbusters to consider taking action that would delay Windows XP's release. He also called on Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to hold hearings on the matter. Also on Tuesday, software maker InterTrust amended an existing lawsuit against Microsoft, asking for an injunction against Windows XP. The company charges that controversial product-activation technology found in Windows XP violates four of its patents. Microsoft is not taking potential Windows XP delays lightly. The company is pushing hard for settlement talks, seeking to drag out court proceedings and scrambling to get Windows XP to PC makers ahead of schedule. Schumer's attack and InterTrust's injunction come at sensitive times for Microsoft, particularly as the Justice Department and 18 states weigh their next step in the antitrust case.
|