Microsoft Settlement A Step in the Right Direction, Says Acton Institute

11/4/2002

From: Phil De Vous of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, 616-454-3080; E-mail: pdevous@acton.org

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 4 -- The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty issued a statement today commenting on the anti-trust settlement reached between Microsoft and the Justice Department.

In a statement, Phillip W. De Vous, the public policy manager of the Acton Institute, offered his reflections on the decision:

"This settlement is certainly a step in the right direction, but the resolution of some serious issues remains ambiguous. The most significant issue at stake throughout this entire legal action has been whether or not a company has the right to protect the products of its investment and innovation. In my estimation, the long-term damage done to intellectual property protections by this costly legal action has yet to be assessed. My concern is that this wide-ranging legal offense brought against Microsoft by its competitors has introduced a dangerous ambiguity into the field of intellectual property protections. This ambiguity could have the potential effect of stifling the entrepreneurial spirit by discouraging research and development into new technologies that are beneficial to human flourishing."

"Justice dictates that every person (and corporation) receive what they are due as a result of their investment and labor. From the beginning, the Justice Department conceded that Microsoft had attained its significant market share legitimately, by offering products desired by and affordable to consumers. The fact that Microsoft is a successful business does not mean that the dictates of justice are suspended or nullified. This settlement, offered in the ruling by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, takes some appropriate steps in remedying the injustices done to intellectual property protections in the Microsoft lawsuit. I hesitate, however, to call this a victory for businesses and consumers alike, who rely on such protections to create the environment where the finest products of human ingenuity can be developed and delivered."

With its commitment to pursue a society that is free and virtuous, the Acton Institute is a leading voice on matters related to the intersection of free market economics and morality in the public square. The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty is uniquely positioned to comment on the moral dimensions of contemporary public policy issues.

The Acton Institute is a nonprofit, ecumenical think tank located in Grand Rapids, MI. The Institute works internationally to "promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles." For more on the Acton Institute, please visit http://www.acton.org.

Interviews with Institute staff may be arranged by contacting Phil De Vous at (616) 454-3080 or at pdevous@acton.org.