WASHINGTON--A group of nine states plans to propose stiff sanctions against Microsoft that could include further opening the Windows source code and could extend to technologies not directly covered by the landmark antitrust case, sources say.
The states are preparing to deliver a remedy proposal to U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on Friday to meet a court-imposed deadline. Microsoft has until Dec. 12 to respond to the legal filing.
The remedy, if accepted, could go well beyond last month"s settlement between the company and the government, which includes the Justice Department and half the states that were co-plaintiffs with the federal agency.
The nine states and the District of Columbia--groups that didn"t sign onto the settlement deal--are taking aim at what they consider to be glaring weaknesses in the agreement, which was widely considered to be a victory for Microsoft.