AOL lobbyist pens 'Independent' anti-MS letter

The states putting their names to the letter - different from those involved in the long-running anti-trust suit - are Vermont, Arkansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Although the letter was signed by Attorney General William Sorrell of Vermont, he subsequently admitted to AP that it had in fact been written by one Jeffrey Modisett, whose currently represents Microsoft's best pals Oracle and AOL.

Modisett also worked for an outfit called ProComp - financed by Microsoft rivals including Oracle, Sun and Netscape - as an anti-MS lobbyist.

The states' letter argues that Windows XP includes many features that will kill off competitors' products, also claiming "[Windows XP] may involve additional unlawful attempts by Microsoft to maintain its operating system monopoly."

Sorrell said he and the other five attorneys general changed the letter substantially from what Modisett originally wrote, and added that he would stand by the letter because his name was on it.