[THIN] GOOD NEWS - Microsoft and Sun
- From: "Jim Kerr" <jim@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:16:16 -0500
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Microsoft and Sun Microsystems Enter Broad Cooperation =
Agreement; Settle Outstanding Litigation=20
Ten Year Agreement Sets New Framework for Industry =
Cooperation; Reduces Cost and Complexity for Customers
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- April 2, 2004 -- Microsoft Corporation =
(NASDAQ: MSFT) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) today announced =
that they have entered into a broad technology collaboration arrangement =
to enable their products to work better together and to settle all =
pending litigation between the two companies. The companies have also =
entered into agreements on patents and other issues.=20
"This agreement launches a new relationship between Sun and =
Microsoft -- a significant step forward that allows for cooperation =
while preserving customer choice," said Scott McNealy, chairman and CEO, =
Sun Microsystems, Inc. "This agreement will be of significant benefit to =
both Sun and Microsoft customers. It will stimulate new products, =
delivering great new choices for customers who want to combine server =
products from multiple vendors and achieve seamless computing in a =
heterogeneous computing environment. We look forward to this opportunity =
-- it provides a framework for cooperation between Sun and Microsoft =
going forward."
"Our companies will continue to compete hard, but this =
agreement creates a new basis for cooperation that will benefit the =
customers of both companies," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive =
officer, Microsoft. "This agreement recognizes that cutting edge R&D and =
intellectual property protection are the foundation for the growth and =
success of our industry. This is a positive step forward for both Sun =
and Microsoft, but the real winners are the customers and developers who =
rely on our products and innovations."=20
The agreements involve payments of $700 million to Sun by =
Microsoft to resolve pending antitrust issues and $900 million to =
resolve patent issues. In addition, Sun and Microsoft have agreed to pay =
royalties for use of each other's technology, with Microsoft making an =
up-front payment of $350 million and Sun making payments when this =
technology is incorporated into its server products.=20
The agreements signed today include the following elements:
a.. Technical Collaboration: The Technical Collaboration =
Agreement will provide both companies with access to aspects of each =
other's server-based technology and will enable them to use this =
information to develop new server software products that will work =
better together. The cooperation will initially center on Windows Server =
and Windows Client, but will eventually include other important areas, =
including email and database software. For example, one of the important =
elements of large scale computing environments is software to manage =
user identities, authentication and authorization. As a result of this =
agreement, Sun and Microsoft engineers will cooperate to allow identity =
information to be easily shared between Microsoft Active Directory and =
the Sun Java System Identity Server, resulting in less complex and more =
secure computing environments.=20
b.. Microsoft Communications Protocol Program: Sun has =
agreed to sign a license for the Windows desktop operating system =
communications protocols under Microsoft's Communications Protocol =
Program, established pursuant to Microsoft's consent decree and final =
judgment with the U.S. Department of Justice and 18 state attorneys =
general.=20
c.. Microsoft Support for Java: The companies have agreed =
that Microsoft may continue to provide product support for the Microsoft =
Java Virtual Machine that customers have deployed in Microsoft's =
products.=20
d.. Windows Certification for Sun Server: Sun and =
Microsoft today are announcing Windows certification for Sun's Xeon =
servers. In addition, the Windows certification process for Sun's =
Opteron-based servers is moving forward.=20
e.. Future Collaboration for Java and .NET: Sun and =
Microsoft have agreed that they will work together to improve technical =
collaboration between their Java and .NET technologies.=20
f.. Patents and Intellectual Property: The parties have =
agreed to a broad covenant not to sue with respect to all past patent =
infringement claims they may have against each other. The agreement also =
provides for potential future extensions of this type of covenant. The =
two companies have also agreed to embark on negotiations for a patent =
cross-license agreement between them.=20
g.. Legal Settlements: The two companies are settling and =
terminating their lawsuit in the United States. Sun is also satisfied =
that the agreements announced today satisfy the objectives it was =
pursuing in the EU actions pending against Microsoft.=20
Press Contacts:
For Microsoft:=20
For more information, media only:
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 443-7070, =
rrt@xxxxxxxxxx
For more information, broadcast media only:
Media Relations, Global Communications & Television, (212) =
339-9920, mediarelations@xxxxxxxx
For more information, financial analysts only:
Curt Anderson, Microsoft Investor Relations, (425) 706-3703
For Sun Microsystems:
Debbie Walery
650-786-8075
debbie.walery@xxxxxxx=20
Lisa Poulson
650-868-6590 (cell)
About Microsoft=20
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide =
leader in software, services and solutions that help people and =
businesses realize their full potential.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The =
Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. =
(Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of =
industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net =
work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide =
Web at http://sun.com
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional =
information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft=AE Web page at =
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate information =
pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of =
publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, =
journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or =
other appropriate contacts listed at =
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in =
the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies =
and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective =
owners.
=20
Related Links=20
Media Alert:=20
a.. Media Advisory: Microsoft Corp. and Sun Microsystems, =
Inc. Press Conference - April 2, 2004=20
Microsoft Resources:=20
b.. Microsoft Legal News on PressPass=20
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