States: Microsoft abusing settlement, Feb 20, 2002

Microsoft Corp. has already used its proposed settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to impose harsher terms on computer manufacturers that buy its software, the states still pursuing the antitrust case against the company alleged Tuesday.

Microsoft's new version of its popular Media Player software is logging the songs and movies that customers play.

The company said Wednesday it was changing its privacy statement to notify customers about the technology after inquiries from The Associated Press.

The system creates a list on each computer that could be a treasure for marketing companies, lawyers or others. Microsoft says it has no plans to sell the data collected by Media Player 8, which comes free with the Windows XP operating system.

Connected computers will be the battleground where the benefits and shortcomings of open source and proprietary software development are finally revealed, according to developers from both camps.

"Eventually, the Grid will give every researcher or entrepreneur access to computing power they could never afford before," said David Turek, vice president of Linux emerging technologies at IBM. "And ultimately, the Grid could make computing as accessible as electricity or telephone service -- always there, you turn it on when you want to and pay only for what you use."

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