Yeah, we know... it's not strictly Apple-related. Heck, when you think about it, it's kind of a stretch to call it even vaguely Apple-related. Still, we just wouldn't feel right if we didn't at least touch upon the latest spin-off of "Redmond Justice." You have, of course, probably already heard what faithful viewer Monkey's Uncle told us yesterday, and what the Associated Press has been reporting: that AOL Time Warner is suing Microsoft, alleging that Redmond's illegal anticompetitive actions throttled Netscape's thriving browser product and turned it into the twisted wreck of a thing it is today. (Okay, so the most recent Netscape browsers aren't that bad... but you have to admit, they lack a certain polish. And for a while there, some of those public builds were looking downright mangy.)

Now, the only reason that AOL is involved is because, as we're sure you're aware, the company swallowed Netscape whole a few years back after Microsoft had left the browser company little more than a twitching corpse with tank treads across its back. This development, frankly, just tickles us to no end, because let's be honest, for a second, here... not many people are going to see this as any kind of struggle of good versus evil. Lots of people hate Microsoft, either because it's an antitrust bully, or because its products cause endless frustration, or even because it's wildly successful. On the other hand, plenty of people also dream of strapping AOL's Steve Case into a dentist's chair and stuffing "400 Hours Free!" CD-ROMs down his gullet until his feet swell to the size of watermelons. In other words, the whole world is now going to get to watch two of the most reviled names in high-tech try to eviscerate each other in court. Really, what could possibly be more entertaining?

Best of all, we still get that barefaced innocence act from Microsoft that was all the rage during the "Redmond Justice" testimony. As noted by faithful viewer Porsupah, in response to the allegations that its illegal business practices nuked Netscape by bundling a free browser with its vastly dominant operating system and thus practically eliminating any market for the company's product, a Microsoft spokesman had this to say: "AOL Time Warner has been using the political and legal system to compete against Microsoft for years. This is just the next tactic in their litigation plans. Microsoft is investing to build new products, while AOL invests in lawyers and lobbyists to put roadblocks in Microsoft's way." Poor Microsoft... innovating as best it can while the evil AOL empire naughtily distracts it with pesky lawsuits. Why, it would be almost tragic if it weren't so darn funny.