Microsoft 'close to anti-trust deal'

SOFTWARE giant Microsoft is on the verge of settling its long-running monopolies battle with the US government, it has been reported.

According to the Washington Post, the US Justice Department has offered Bill Gates‘s company a settlement plan and asked the 18 states that also sued Microsoft over unfair business practises to sign up to the deal.

It is thought Friday has been set as the deadline for both sides to reach an agreement. If a settlement is not reached, there will be more hearings to work out how Microsoft can be stopped from abusing its market domination in the future.

The anti-trust case was originally brought in 1998 by the US government and a judgement was made against the firm in June 2000.