Some experts have their doubts about the prospects for a magazine that disappears for some months and becomes conspicuous by its absence in a fast-moving industry.

"This really is the most exciting, fast-moving industry in the world," Mr. Allen said.

Roger was truly a pioneer in the fast-moving global industry that we now take for granted, Mr. Wagoner said.

Besides, in a fast-moving industry, no one knows how to specify today the unforeseeable violations in the future.

"It plays into being at the vanguard of a very fast-moving industry," Mr. Mele added.

In one way, MCI's ultimate fade from the corporate scene reflects what has happened to other large companies in fast-moving industries.

It operates in a fast-moving, dynamic industry, suggesting further reason to hesitate before reshaping the software industry by court edict.

In a fast-moving industry, rules become irrelevant quickly.

It does appear to support a key theme of Microsoft's defense - namely, that it operates in a fast-moving industry where corporate alliances shift all the time.

This is valuable in fast-moving industries, but it is not always the best objective.