U.S. vs Microsoft Essay -- Justice vs Microsoft

Microsoft CasePart IThe government has been sounding into Microsoft since 1990, when the Federal Trade Commission first started examining charges of monopolistic behavior. In 1995, Microsoft and the U.S. arbitrator Department reached a settlement that required the phoner to change a variety of c equal practices, including key aspects of its licensing agreements with personal computer makers (2).Microsoft has grown into an broad and powerful corporation by a combination of aggressive business practices and having written operating systems (DOS and Windows) for personal computers. From operating systems it branched out into former(a) softw be program which has, along with the operating system, become something of an industry standard. These software products include, besides are not limited to, the Microsoft exponent Suite and net venturer browser. One of the leading questions is if this is a good state of affairs should unity partnership so dominate computing and the net i ncome when we rely so heavily upon it?The most recent lawsuit involves the Justice Department and 20 state attorneys general. They believe that Microsoft has used its monopoly in operating system software to protect its dominance and eliminate competitors. The government says that in the long run, consumers allow be harmed, because there will be less competition and few choices. More specifically, the government contends that Microsoft has engaged in actions to preserve its Windows monopoly that violate antitrust laws. The government also maintains that the company has used the power of its Windows monopoly to attempt to monopolize the market for Internet browsing software. In addition, government lawyers allege that the company has committed other anti-competitive acts (2).In addition to the DOJ and the 20 states, several(prenominal) other players are part of the government team against Microsoft Netscape/AOL, Sun Microsystems, Linux and the turn over Source movement, and the C onsumer Project on Technology. The keys concerns are illegal tying arrangements with Windows and Internet Explorer illegal market division between Microsoft and Netscape and predatory extend/pricing between Microsoft and Netscape, MS Office and Word Perfect Office and Lotus Office Suite (3).Microsoft contends that it is simply trying to innovate its products. The company contends that its actions are legal and says that t... ... it has the ability to sell that software as it sees fit. Microsoft has a very large share of the operating system market, but capital of Mississippi is off base equating Microsoft to Standard Oil.As a consumer, I have a hard time getting upset with Microsoft in general. I like the idea of being able to go to most any computer in this country and immediately be able to use the software. Whether it be Windows or Office products, the look and feel are the same at home or at any workstation.Bibliography1.Cringely, Robert X. smasher Me, Slap Me, Make Me Write Bad Code. I, Cringely The Pulpit, (November 11, 1999). http//www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit19991118.html2.Chandrasekaran, Rajiv. U.S. vs Microsoft. capital letter Post, (January, 2000). http//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/longterm/microsoft/basics.htm3.Meeks, Brock. Justice vs Microsoft. MSNBC, (February 24, 2000). http//www.msnbc.com/news/343334.asp4.Zittrain, Jonathan. U.S. vs Microsoft The Expert Opinion. Chicago Tribune Internet Edition, (February, 2000). http//chicagotribune.com/tech/news/ws/indx/0,1306,8297-16796,00.html