Perhaps I have been too colored by my DoJ role this week but it seems that Microsoft could have complied with the order if it had stopped limiting OEMs behavior and allowed OEMs to pre-install the software however they saw fit. Once Microsoft permitted only a finite set of alternatives for the OEMs, it inevitably could have been found in contempt because each option (however many were created) would either contain a part of IE or be completely non-functional. Couldn't Microsoft have sent out its letter to OEMs simply outlining a list of files which where no longer mandated by the license?

I have a feeling I'm parroting back some of what we discussed in the class so if someone could explain where I'm falling off the apple cart here I'd be very grateful.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 1998