When the courts opened on Friday, it was anyone's guess who would emerge from it the victor. Among other things, this 4.5 year series of battles were aimed at forcing Microsoft to open up the source to their browser, Internet Explorer, and possibly Windows itsself. But, perhaps by asking for too much, the prosecution got too little. Microsoft ended up winning. Their only penalty is that they would have to uphold the terms of this "settlement":
Prevents Microsoft from participating in exclusive deals that could hurt competitors.
Requires uniform contract terms for computer manufacturers.
Allows manufacturers and customers to remove icons for some Microsoft features.
Requires Microsoft to release some technical information so software developers can write programs for Windows that work as well as Microsoft's.

Sounds to me like Microsoft is really hurting from that ruling.

A federal judge handed Microsoft Corp an enormous victory by endorsing nearly all of its anti-trust settlement with the Justice Department and rejecting harsher penalties sought by nine states.

 

US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly warned company founder Bill Gates and other Microsoft executives, however, that she would hold them individually responsible for complying with her instructions.

 

Mr Gates said he was ''personally committed'' to abide by the agreement, which he called ''a good compromise and good settlement''. Microsoft was unlikely to challenge the decision.