Microsoft Smells a Rat

Microsoft is still pushing for the removal of Lawrence Lessig after the court-appointed fact-finder in the government's antitrust battle said he would not disqualify himself in the face of emails from Lessig that Microsoft says prove he has shown "extreme bias" against the company. Microsoft first filed for Lessig's dismissal on Dec. 23, alleging its concern "that Professor Lessig may have already formed views about Microsoft and the issues in this case." Justice scoffed, saying Monday that the allegations were "unfounded and overblown." Yesterday, Microsoft released copies of Lessig's E-mail in which he complains that the installation of Microsoft's Internet Explorer sabotaged his existing Netscape bookmarks and likened the whole experience to having "sold his soul." Return correspondence -- from someone at Netscape, no less -- mentions Microsoft's "blatant anti-competition strategy" and adds, "I really do hate that company."

In a letter to Lessig filed with the court yesterday, Richard J. Urowsky, counsel to Microsoft, wrote, "It is difficult to see how you can in good conscience preside over further proceedings in this matter." Lessig may find that hard to argue.