Microsoft tried to convince a federal judge Thursday that nine states have no right to seek antitrust penalties that would apply to the nation. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, assigned to oversee the states' case as well as decide whether to approve the federal government's settlement with Microsoft Corp., seemed skeptical of the software maker's position.
Microsoft's lawyers argued that the states, unlike the federal government, should have to show that their citizens specifically were harmed by Microsoft's illegal attacks on its competitors.
"The injury alleged is an injury to the whole world, and they aren't surrogates to the whole world," Microsoft lawyer John Warden said. "If you get rid of these requirements, any member of the public can come before the court and make similar claims."
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