Microsoft Foes Double-Click Monopoly Issue Competitors, Critics Say Government Should Rein In Software Giant

Consumer advocates, high-tech consultants and rivals of Microsoft Corp. railed against the giant computer softwaremaker Thursday as an out-of-control monopoly that should be reined in by the government.

“Imagine going into a shoe store and being told there is only one shoe you can try on,” said Gary Reback, a lawyer who has argued in cases against Microsoft.

“One size fits all. That’s what we have in the desktop computer industry today,” he said in a speech at the Ralph Nader-sponsored conference, “Appraising Microsoft and Its Global Strategy.”

Microsoft officials and their allies gathering at the same Washington hotel said the Nader conference was a media event staged by competitors who have been unable to knock Bill Gates’ empire from its place atop the industry.

Robert Herbold, Microsoft’s executive vice president, said in a letter to Nader: “It is regrettable that you appear to have aligned yourself with a small band of … detractors whose apparent goal is to enlist the government’s assistance in their efforts to compete with Microsoft.”

Herbold said Reback’s boss, Larry Sonsini, is a director of Microsoft competitor Novell Inc., and owns 54,100 shares of Novell stock.

Nader criticized Microsoft chief executive Gates and his top executives for refusing repeated invitations to speak to the conference.