Microsoft attorneys allege that an executive at rival Oracle drafted a large part of the tougher set of antitrust remedies that nine US states and the District of Columbia are now seeking. In a federal court filing issued Friday, Microsoft named Oracle Vice President Ken Glueck as a "prime mover" behind the plan to impose tougher sanctions on the software giant. "Oracle is one of Microsoft's most vocal critics and hostile competitors," Microsoft wrote in its filing. "Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that Oracle worked closely with the non-settling states, helping them to conceive of and prepare their draconian remedial proposal."
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), a trade group partially comprised of Microsoft competitors, almost instantly rebutted the filing. CCIA President Ed Black said that competitors should provide input because such companies are better versed in the issues than the states, and Microsoft's illegal activities have directly affected them. "Lawbreakers ought to not be surprised if people go to the authorities charged with enforcing the law and explain to them what they know about the law being broken," Black said.
Oracle won't specifically comment on the allegation. But a company spokesperson said that Microsoft's filing is probably just another attempt to delay its remedy hearing.
