November 6, 1999

Federal Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson issues broad denunciation of Microsoft Corp in landmark antitrust case, ruling that company is monopoly that uses power to stifle innovation, reduce competition and hurt consumers; 207-page findings of fact says company, through its conduct, demonstrates it will use prodigious market power and immense profits to harm any firm that insists on pursuing initiatives that could intensify competition against one of its core products; finds government's case against company credible and rejects as 'specious' virtually all arguments Microsoft offered in defense; his findings detailed; Justice Department is jubilant; Atty Gen Janet Reno hails ruling as great day for American consumers; Microsoft chairman William Gates says he disagrees with many of court's findings; says company operates within laws and in way that is beneficial to consumers; says it competes vigorously and fairly and is committed to resolving case in fair and equitable manner; photos (L)

Judge Contends Microsoft Stifled Tech Innovation The judge in the government's antitrust trial against Microsoft issued a broad denunciation of the software giant as the first part of his verdict in the case. The judge, Thomas Penfield Jackson of Federal District Court, said that the company used its monopoly power to stifle innovation, reduce competition and hurt consumers.

Labor Department reports unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in October, lowest level in nearly 30 years; average wages of workers below rank of supervisor went up just one cent an hour; nation's employers added 310,000 jobs to their payrolls in October; employment growth averaged only 160,000 a month for August through October, down from 210,000 in first half of year; Labor Sec Alexis Herman hails latgest employment figures; graph (M)

Man in the News article on Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, presiding judge in Microsoft Corp antitrust case; chart; photo (M)

Ongoing series, One Europe 10 Years, examining Europe 10 years after fall of Berlin Wall; focuses on shifting fates of countries that make up Eastern Europe and their tangled relations with one another; photos; map (M)