Oracle's day in court

Oracle case bounces to Europe
The European Commission is studying the U.S. court decision favoring Oracle's PeopleSoft buyout and deciding whether to pursue its own objections.
September 10, 2004

Judge rules in favor of Oracle
Software maker prevails in courtroom against Justice Department's antitrust arguments. CEO Larry Ellison immediately extends stock offer, saying in letter to PeopleSoft, "we are hopeful a transaction can occur."
September 9, 2004

Ruling turns up heat on PeopleSoft
Takeover battle to continue as Oracle faces other obstacles in merger quest, experts say. Several scenarios are possible, but quick or tidy outcome is not expected.
September 9, 2004

Read the ruling
PDF In 164 pages, Judge Vaughn Walker delivers his decision, saying the "plaintiffs have not proved that a post-merger Oracle would have sufficient market share in the product and geographic markets."
September 9, 2004

PeopleSoft flap may hurt Oracle's image
Public opinion of the database giant sinks to a 12-year low, a new report indicates.
September 8, 2004

Traders bet on Oracle
Options on PeopleSoft stock are in demand, showing that Wall Street expects Oracle to win its antitrust case.
August 16, 2004

Judge moves to unseal documents in Oracle case
Says certain documents, which Oracle and others want to keep from eyes of rivals, may be necessary to decide case.
August 13, 2004

Judge grills Oracle, DOJ in closing arguments
Case summations open with Justice Department attorneys on the hot seat. Then Oracle faces the same tough treatment.
July 20, 2004

DOJ, Oracle write up opposing views
A week before closing arguments, the foes submit paperwork putting their own spins on antitrust debate.
July 13, 2004

Judge's order may be good for Oracle
Request to clarify antitrust arguments may signal weakness in Justice Dept.'s case.
July 12, 2004

Oracle, DOJ file antitrust legal briefs
Documents rehash four weeks of courtroom testimony; More enticing briefs expected on Monday.
July 9, 2004

Ellison's defining moment
perspective CNET News.com's Karen Southwick says a bravura court performance by Oracle's CEO may have pushed the company over the goal line in its bid to buy PeopleSoft.
July 2, 2004

No clear winner in antitrust trial
Barely hidden agendas, dense economic analysis and emotional customer testimony make case tough to call.
July 1, 2004

Oracle rests case as trial winds down
An economist says the merger would aid competition. Papers show IBM looking nervous.
July 1, 2004

Ellison: 'Radical' industry shift drove bid
Oracle's CEO testifies that competitive pressure compelled the company to attempt a hostile acquisition of PeopleSoft.
June 30, 2004

Microsoft details SAP buyout plan
Microsoft described star-crossed "Project Constellation" as its only shot at the high-end market for business software.
June 29, 2004

PeopleSoft CEO won't testify
Oracle decides to forego planned six-hour grilling of Craig Conway, but opens final week with testimony from Lawson Software CEO.
June 28, 2004

PeopleSoft, Oracle talked merger in detail
Oracle president says PeopleSoft proposed and discussed merging before the hostile takeover attempt was launched.
June 25, 2004

Oracle-PeopleSoft rivalry fueled innovation
The Justice Department presents Oracle e-mails, saying they show responsiveness to pressure from the rival it wants to acquire.
June 25, 2004

Microsoft executive cites expansion worries
Even a software giant can't be a big presence in every market, it seems. Oracle, meanwhile, looks at the little guys.
June 25, 2004

Market matters spurred Microsoft-SAP talks
Microsoft worried that if Oracle acquired PeopleSoft, it could lose ground in the database software market.
June 23, 2004

Oracle moves to blunt Microsoft testimony
White paper showing frequent competition meant to counter Wednesday's Justice Department witness.
June 22, 2004

PeopleSoft CEO blasts Ellison's 'jealousy'
Craig Conway says his company will beat leader SAP but stays mostly mum on Oracle's ongoing takeover attempt.
June 22, 2004

Oracle's lengthy shopping list
Court documents offer a rare glimpse into how Oracle assessed nine companies for possible acquisition.
June 22, 2004

For Oracle, a range of acquisition targets
CEO Larry Ellison says software makers Siebel and BEA are on the company's wish list.
June 21, 2004

Oracle president backpedals on 'oligopoly'
Justice Department plays up market observations Charles Phillips made in a previous incarnation as an analyst.
June 18, 2004

Economist: Oracle-SAP duopoly would hurt market
Antitrust expert supports Justice Department argument that Oracle's proposed purchase of PeopleSoft would be anticompetitive.
June 18, 2004

Documents show PeopleSoft feared Microsoft
Oracle's attorneys aim to prove that PeopleSoft feared more rivals than itself and SAP.
June 17, 2004

Testimony: SAP, Microsoft would keep Oracle in check
An Accenture executive testifies that credible competition would still exist after an Oracle-PeopleSoft merger.
June 16, 2004

Automaker cites customer costs of PeopleSoft takeover
Buyers of business applications worry that Oracle wouldn't support PeopleSoft users, forcing them into costly upgrades.
June 15, 2004

Govt. witnesses decry lack of choices
The Justice Department elaborates on its contention that an Oracle-PeopleSoft merger would crush competitiveness.
June 14, 2004

Oracle judge won't bar disputed witnesses
Neither Oracle nor Justice Dept. manage to keep other's witnesses off the stand.
June 11, 2004

Judge vows 'tougher line' on testimony
As the trial labors toward a definition of the enterprise software market, judge Walker tells both sides to get realistic about business information they deem confidential.
June 10, 2004

Trying a 'landmark case'
perspective Oracle's legal team might be outrunning the Justice Department, but CNET News.com's Karen Southwick says the race is a marathon, not a sprint.
June 10, 2004

DOJ: Big three rule corporate market
Testimony from IBM and PeopleSoft customer Verizon supports the Justice Department case that there's not enough competition to allow Oracle's acquisition plan.
June 9, 2004

Offer holds risks for early takers
PeopleSoft investors who accepted Oracle's tender offer of $26 a share--then didn't notice the offer drop to $21, or the recent rise in the stock's value--could lose money in the unlikely event Oracle opts to buy their shares now.
June 9, 2004

Oracle sees plenty of competitors
Oracle points to a PeopleSoft competitive analysis that shows there's more competition in the business application software market than PeopleSoft or the Justice Department have claimed.
June 8, 2004

Oracle hits hard at Justice Dept.'s case
A feisty Oracle comes out swinging at the government's insistence that its proposed acquisition of PeopleSoft would be detrimental to the business software market.
June 7, 2004

Microsoft, SAP mulled merger
The companies initiated merger discussions late last year, but eventually broke off talks for reasons of complexity, according to information released during discovery in the Oracle case.
June 7, 2004

Trade group favors Oracle in DOJ suit
A leading software trade association takes Oracle's side on the eve of its federal court battle, warning that the government missed important trends in its market assessment.
June 4, 2004

Takeover attempt takes its toll
A year after it began, Oracle's bid has left both companies the worse for the wear, analysts say. And the end may not be in sight.
June 3, 2004

Start marking your trial score card
The judge's line of questioning will be a key indicator of his thinking on whether to favor the federal challenge to Oracle's effort.
June 3, 2004

Attorneys sketch schedule for Oracle trial
Among the experts and executives expected to testify are Harvard business professor Marco Iansiti and PeopleSoft chief Craig Conway.
June 3, 2004

Oracle, Justice submit final witness lists
Top executives from IBM and Siebel are among additions to Oracle's list. Meanwhile, some lawyers who have gone before Judge Vaughn Walker, who will hear the case, say he relies heavily on testimony from experts.
May 18, 2004

EC regulators delay Oracle decision
European officials stop the clock on deciding whether to block the hostile bid. Observers speculate that the database giant is stalling to avoid a ruling that could harm its U.S. case.
April 15, 2004

Oracle outlines case for antitrust fight
Company co-President Charles Phillips argues that "to compete, we'll need the economies of scale" that a PeopleSoft buyout would bring.
March 1, 2004

U.S. to block Oracle's bid
Antitrust authorities say they'll go to court to block Oracle's proposed purchase of rival software company PeopleSoft, but Oracle vows to challenge the decision.
February 26, 2004

Oracle makes 'final' bid for PeopleSoft
The business software maker increases its hostile offer for rival PeopleSoft to $26 per share, raising the overall value of the acquisition purse to $9.4 billion.
February 4, 2004

PeopleSoft extends money-back guarantee
The company will continue a controversial money-back guarantee program through March 31, or until Oracle drops its $7.3 billion bid.
January 13, 2004

Oracle vs. PeopleSoft
A complete roundup of coverage of the first six months of the saga of Oracle's attempt to acquire PeopleSoft.
November 17, 2003