CCIA and Microsoft To Team Up for Future Cooperation

The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and Microsoft Corp. (www.microsoft.com) today announced they have entered an agreement to resolve several outstanding issues on which they have been on opposite sides, in some cases for several years, and to work together on important and pressing technology issues facing the high-tech industry.

"We are pleased with this agreement and expect that our relationship with Microsoft and others will enable us to address important issues impacting millions of people and the future of our industry," said Ed Black, president and CEO of CCIA.

The agreement reflects recognition by both CCIA and Microsoft that there are important public policy issues where there is an important commonality of interest throughout the information technology industry, but where cooperation has been hindered by the contentious relationship between them.

As part of this agreement, Microsoft will join the membership of CCIA. The company will compensate CCIA for certain legal-related expenditures it has incurred, in some cases over the past decade, and provide substantial institutional support for new and important policy undertakings on which CCIA will take a leadership role.

CCIA in turn agreed not to seek certiorari to the Supreme Court in its challenge to the District Court's Final Judgment in the United States v. Microsoft antitrust case.

In entering this agreement, CCIA underscored its desire to increase its ability to address a growing number of important issues facing the industry. The agreement will enable CCIA to focus its resources and energy with greater cooperation and support from Microsoft and its business partners.

For its part, Microsoft noted the importance of moving beyond conflicts and forging more constructive relationships in the industry.

"The industry is at its best when we move forward together to address the issues of greatest concern to consumers, from security to online safety to helping ensure strong education and a highly skilled work force," said Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft.

For over 30 years, CCIA has been committed to open markets, open systems, and full, fair and open competition. CCIA's commitment to these principles is undiminished, and it welcomes Microsoft to the table as a global corporate citizen and new CCIA member.