CNN logo Navigation Infoseek/Big Yellow Pathfinder/Warner Bros Tech banner IBM Reinventing Education rule JUSTICE SEEKS $1 MILLION A DAY CONTEMPT FINE AGAINST MICROSOFT Microsoft logo October 20, 1997 Web posted at: 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department asked a federal court Monday to hold the computer software giant Microsoft Corp. in contempt for requiring personal computer manufacturers to license and distribute its Internet browser. The department said the company violated a 1995 court order the government obtained to bar the company from anticompetitive licensing practices. The government sought a $1 million a day fine. "Microsoft is unlawfully taking advantage of its Windows monopoly to protect and extend that monopoly," Attorney General Janet Reno told reporters. Janet Reno "This is a very serious abuse," said Assistant Attorney General Joel I. Klein, head of the antitrust division. He said Microsoft's action was designed to undermine the dominant market position of its major competitor for Internet browsers, Netscape. Internet browsers are important, Klein said, because they "could erode Microsoft's operating system monopoly" in the Windows operating system. "This kind of product forcing is an abuse of monopoly power and we seek to put an end to it." Klein emphasized that the Justice Department is still investigating other practices by Microsoft but declined to give details. The Justice Department objected to Microsoft's requirement that computer manufacturers who want to license the Windows 95 operating system also license its internet browser, known as Internet Explorer. Most personal computer makers install Windows 95 at the factory. Klein said, "These are two different products." He said they should be sold as two separate products, but he adamantly said the government was not taking sides in the war for browser market share between Microsoft and Netscape, whose browser is known as Navigator, or any other company. "Each of Microsoft's products should compete on its own merits," Klein said. Copyright 1997 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. _________________________________________________________________ Infoseek search ____________________ ____ ____ _________________________________________________________________ rule Watch these shows on CNN for more sci-tech stories: CNN Computer Connection | Future Watch | Science & Technology Week rule Message Boards Sound off on our message boards You said it... [INLINE] IBM Reinventing Education rule To the top © 1997 Cable News Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.