Microsoft

The Microsoft Antitrust Trial

Government Side : The Government acknowledges the fact that Microsoft arrived to its position of dominance fairly and legally . That it became the largest vendor of personal computer operating systems through a combination of sheer skill , timing and miscalculation of its competitors . The government does not present its case against this monopoly , rather we present our case about Microsoft 's unfair and unjust use of its monopoly of operating systems to drive competitors of their other products out of business

The leading Internet browser in 1995 was Netscape

Navigator made by Netscape Communication . Microsoft had its own competing product if the form of Internet Explorer . Both programs were offered by both companies free of charge . Netscape can even be downloaded for free from the Internet

In the next version of their Windows Operating System , Microsoft bundled Internet Explorer with the new version , Windows 98 . Since Microsoft already had a monopoly of operating systems , nearly all PC users had installed Windows 98 and with it , Internet Explorer . Since Internet Explorer had already been installed in their computers , Computer users would now have no reason to install Navigator since they already had Internet Explorer installed along with Windows 98 which is essential for them to use their computers . In this situation , Microsoft leveraged its monopoly in one business (operating systems ) to gain an unfair advantage in another (the browser market . The browser market is especially promising as by packaging Internet Explorer with Windows 98 , they guarantee that new Internet users will have their first Internet experience through Microsoft products . The move with Windows 98 ensures Microsoft an automatic large install base which they can further leverage to promoting their presence and profitability on the World Wide Web by influencing the development of standards and protocols to be used by all users

Microsoft Side : The business of technology is a challenging arena Microsoft as a technology company must continually provide greater levels of innovation , of value of features with every product release With the explosion of the World Wide Web , it is only natural that Microsoft see to it that the next release of their operating system be well equipped to enable users to explore and exploit the World Wide Web . As such , Windows 98 not only had Internet Explorer bundled with the operating system - Internet Explorer is actually integrated into the core of the operating system . Doing so allows Windows 98 to have better features arising from its easier use of the Internet

Antitrust laws and cases are approved and d to protect consumers not businesses . It is therefore imperative to ask whose interests are being protected in this antitrust case ? By integrating Internet Explorer with Windows , the consumer can connect immediately to the Internet (no need to download another browser ) and also avail of newer features which are the product of integrating Explorer with Windows . Never was the consumer forced to use Internet Explorer . In fact , Navigator can still be downloaded and used by the consumer with Windows...