WASHINGTON, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The unanimous decision released today
by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in the U.S. v.
Microsoft antitrust trial remanding Judge Jackson's ruling on technology
"tying" is a victory for innovation and competition that benefits consumers.
From the outset of this trial, the Association for Competitive Technology
(ACT) has consistently argued that preserving the right of a company to add
features to their products is the central issue in this case. The language in
the Court's decision is in direct alignment with ACT's long-standing position
that building new features into existing software benefits consumers who would
otherwise have to cobble together -- and pay higher costs for -- individual
computer software components.
"The Court got it right in rejecting the outrageous notion that
integration is harmful to consumers and the industry," said ACT president
Jonathan Zuck. "Tight integration among related areas of the IT industry
promotes competition by enabling low cost competitors to go toe-to-toe with a
high priced incumbent. Integration has always been an important part of
innovation," added Zuck.
"Antitrust law has once again returned to its founding principle -- to
ensure that new products and services can reach consumers. We are pleased to
see the court uphold the principles of aggressive innovation and competition,"
said C. Boyden Gray of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering. "This decision should
discourage competitors from asking the courts to protect them from innovative
new products," added Gray.
"When the District Court considers what remedies may be appropriate in
this case, they must remember the hugely negative toll the prior scheme would
have taken on the technology sector. We must not let technology entrepreneurs
get caught in the cross fire of a war between industry giants," stressed Zuck.
"The IT industry stands ready to work with the District Court as they consider
this important issue," said Zuck.
ACT is a national education and advocacy group for the technology
industry. Representing mostly small- and mid-sized companies, ACT is the
industry's strongest voice when it comes to preserving competition and
innovation in the high tech sector. ACT's membership includes businesses
involved in all aspects of the IT sector including computer software and
hardware development, IT consulting and training, dot-coms.
SOURCE Association for Competitive Technology
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.actonline.org
CONTACT:
Vince Sampson of Association for Competitive
Technology, 202-331-2130, ext. 103, or vsampson@ACTonline.org
|
