Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Friday, October 9, 1998
Judge delays start of Microsoft case
WASHINGTON -- A federal judge agreed to delay the start of the government's antitrust trial with Microsoft Corp. four days until Oct. 19.Adding to the roster of witnesses of high-tech rivals, the government says it will call key executives from Apple Computer Co. and Sun Microsystems Inc. to testify against Microsoft at the trial.
The government wants to use testimony from Apple and Sun to show that Microsoft engaged in a pattern of illegal activities, not just specifically to distribute more of its Internet browser software, but also generally to protect its lucrative Windows operating system. The decision to highlight Microsoft's behavior toward Apple and Sun illustrates the breadth of the case. Executives from Netscape Communications Corp., Intel Corp., America Online Inc., IBM Corp. and Intuit Inc. previously agreed to testify against Microsoft.
News Corp. to buy back 7% more of its stock
SYDNEY, Australia -- News Corp. said today it will buy back up to 137.1 million of its preferred limited shares. The buyback, which will run through April 11, represents about 7.7 percent of preferred limited shares outstanding. The new program extends an earlier buyback under which 37.9 million preferred shares were purchased and canceled. News Corp., based in Sydney, is an international media and entertainment company controlled by Rupert Murdoch and his family.
In other news . . .
Lucent Technologies Inc. said it will build a new semiconductor plant in Allentown, Pa., for $165 million, consolidating smaller facilities it has in the area. The top U.S. seller of phone equipment plans to create 1,600 new jobs at the plant during eight years.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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