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Judge Orders Microsoft Break-up

June 7, 2000

As expected, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson issued his final ruling in the Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) antitrust case this afternoon and called for a break-up of the company. The ruling calls for Microsoft to be split in two separate companies: an operating systems company and an applications software company. Microsoft has appealed. The antitrust case has been covered here at the Fool and in every other financial website, publication, and TV show. You'll find links to the ruling, relevant Fool articles, and a couple of Fun & Folly Top 5 lists on the topic below.

The Ruling
Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson says Microsoft should be broken into two separate companies. Here's his final judgement.

Fool Thoughts on Microsoft:

• A Pro and a Con -- Matt Richey and Rob Landley in "Dueling Fools"
  
• Microsoft Ain't AT&T -- Bill Mann in "Rule Maker"
  
• Did Microsoft Skip a Grade? -- Bill Barker in "Fool on the Hill"
  
• Why I Still Like Microsoft -- Matt Richey in "Rule Maker"
  
• The Emotion of the Case -- Bill Barker in "Fool on the Hill"

Your Thoughts on Microsoft:

Recent Fool Poll Results

• Does Microsoft Have Investment Potential? -- 5/31/2000
• Was Judge Jackson Correct in Finding Microsoft a Monopoly? -- 4/3/2000
  
• Will Microsoft and the Justice Department Settle? -- 3/28/2000
  
• Should Microsoft Be Broken Up? -- 11/8/99

Fun & Folly Top 5 Lists

• Top 5 Little-Known Provisions in the Microsoft Break-Up Plan
  
• Top 5 Ways a Move to Canada Would Change Microsoft

Discuss Microsoft
There are tons o' Fools out on the Microsoft discussion board talking about the case. Join the conversation.

Dave & Tom Talk With Microsoft CFO
The Gardners spoke with company CFO John Connors on a recent Motley Fool Radio Show. Here's a transcript of that conversation.

"Microsoft is a Monopoly"
Back in November, Judge Jackson issued a ruling stating that Microsoft is a monopoly. You'll find a number of related links in a special feature we ran then.

Other Related Links