WASHINGTON: A federal court on Friday permitted America Online Inc. to file a
brief supporting the government in its antitrust suit against Microsoft Corp.,
introducing other points of view into the trial.
The US District Court of Appeals allowed AOL and three other trade groups
representing Microsoft competitors to file a joint "friend of the
court" brief of no more than 25 pages on November 27. AOL and the other
groups had sought to file individual briefs, a move Microsoft opposed.
The Washington court will also allow two groups supporting Microsoft to file
a joint brief.
Microsoft's initial brief in the appeal is expected on the same date; the
U.S. Justice Department will file its brief on January 12. Oral arguments will
begin in February.
The court will hear an appeal of a lower court's decision to split Microsoft
in two, a move sought by the government.
AOL's Netscape Web browser competes against Microsoft's Explorer browser.
(C) Reuters Limited 2000.