You wouldn't let it lie... *

Massachusetts officials said Friday they will appeal a recent ruling in Microsoft's long-running antitrust case, while seven other states intend to drop their opposition.

"We are going to appeal," state attorney general Tom Reilly said Friday during a conference call. "This appeal is necessary to protect consumers."

For consumers read MS competitors and lobbyists in our state?

Massachusetts delivered its decision ahead of a Monday deadline. The nine plaintiff states have 30 days from U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly's Oct. 1 ruling to decide whether to file an appeal. But Massachusetts is not being supported by most of the other states that have previously criticized the settlement as inadequate. "We are going it alone," Reilly said.

The District of Columbia and nine other states--California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah and West Virginia--had rejected a November 2001 settlement Microsoft cut with the Justice Department and nine other states.

In a Friday statement, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said, "Seven states and the District of Columbia will not appeal Judge Kollar-Kotelly's decree in the Microsoft antitrust case. We will move on to enforcing the decree on behalf of consumers and fair competition.

"For most of our states, it is time to dedicate our resources to enforcement of the decree and the law," Miller said.

*Thanks to Vic 'n' Bob

View: Microsoft antitrust ruling faces appeal