Feb. 2 An appeals court panel temporarily removes Lessig from his post while the court considers Microsoft’s appeal.
Feb. 17 A Texas judge sides with Microsoft, saying the company didn not hinder that state’s investigation.
 Bill Gates gestures at Sun Microsystems’ Scott McNealy. (Washington Post) |
March 3 Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and other computer industry executives testify before a U.S. Senate panel investigating the company’s business practices.
April 21 A federal appeals court in Washington hears arguments but doesn’t say when it will rule on Microsoft’s bid to overturn Judge Jackson’s Dec. 11, 1997 injunction.
May 14 Microsoft, the Justice Department and close to 20 states announce they’re in settlement talks that could head off a massive antitrust suit.
May 18 U.S., 20 states sue Microsoft.
May 21 Microsoft asks judge to delay hearing.
May 22 Judge sets September trial date for Microsoft.
June 23 A federal appeals court rules that Microsoft did not violate a previous agreement with the government when it combined Windows 95 and Internet Explorer.
July 23 Five computer executives, including Oracle Corp.’s Larry Ellison and IBM’s Jeffrey Papous and Rob Glaser, complained to the Senate Judiciary Committee that Microsoft is using unfair business practices.
July 28 Microsoft calls lawsuit “completely groundless.” Microsoft also countersued the 20 states.
 Microsoft general counsel William Neukom leaves federal court in Washington, August, 6, 1998. (Washington Post) |
July 31 Justice claims Microsoft won’t make Gates available for questioning, turn over the source code for Windows or allow 17 company executives to be deposed.
Aug. 11 Judge Jackson rules that pretrial interviews of Gates and other executives should be open. Microsoft appeals.
Aug. 19 Federal court of appeals rules that pretrial interviews should be closed.
Aug. 25 U.S. begins probe to determine if Microsoft illegally pressured Intel and Apple.
Sept. 8 Microsoft files a 48-page legal brief rebuking the government and reiterating its argument that the case be dismissed.
Sept. 11 The Justice Department and Microsoft Corp. ask Judge Jackson for a three-week delay to their antitrust trial due to pretrial preparations.
Sept. 14 Judge Jackson rejects Microsoft’s requests to throw out the two antitrust lawsuits.
 Judge Jackson (File Photo) |
Sept. 17 Judge Jackson rejects a request from Microsoft to limit the scope of evidence that government lawyers can present in the antitrust trial.
Sept. 24 Judge Jackson tells lawyers on both sides that he may ask Lawrence Lessig, to write a “friend of the court” brief summarizing his views on the case.
Sept. 28 Microsoft serves subpoenas to authors David B. Yoffie and Michael A. Cusumano seeking, among other things, tapes of their interviews with Netscape employees.
Oct. 1 Microsoft’s Internet Explorer overtakes Netscape’s Navigator in browser market share.
Oct. 8 U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns rejects Microsoft’s attempt to obtain Yoffie and Cusumano’s recordings and notes.
Oct. 9 Judge Jackson agrees to delay the beginning of the antitrust trial until October 19.
Oct. 19 The trial begins at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, D.C.
