Microsoft changes antitrust settlement

WASHINGTON: Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it had agreed to modify its

antitrust settlement with the US Justice Department, to address criticism that

it contained loopholes and would allow the company to seize computer makers'

patented technologies.

In a legal brief filed with US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly late

Wednesday night, Microsoft described the changes as "refinements."

Microsoft reached the deal with the Justice Department in November to settle

the nearly four-year-old case by, among other things, agreeing to give computer

makers more freedom to feature rival software on the machines they sell.

Nine of the 18 states in the lawsuit agreed to sign on to the deal, but nine

others are still pursuing the case and seeking tougher sanctions against

Microsoft to prevent future antitrust violations.