FREE ESSAY ON MICROSOFT

MICROSOFT

Microsoft, the world's largest company by market value, is accused of acting monopolistic
in the computer software industry. Microsoft provides for eighty percent of the computers
used, operating system. The operating system is a basic program that loads or boots up
your computer to make it perform. Now this is where the government takes a strong stand
in accusing Microsoft of causing a monopoly. In order for Word, Excel, Office, and many
other programs to work, they have to be compatible to the Microsoft operating system.
This means that a computer owner cannot select another company to be its operating system
if it wants these programs. Might I also add that these programs are the top of the line
in each of their categories. Since they are the elite programs, of course retailers are
going to want the computers they are marketing to have Microsoft's operating system. Not
only has Microsoft taken control of the operating system, but it also has knocked
Netscape's Navigator out of the loop, replacing it with Internet Explorer, which is of
course Bill Gates' web browser. So therefore, Microsoft has cleverly created a monopoly
by restricting its competition.
Is this legal? The judge, Thomas Penfield Jackson, ruled the Microsoft did in fact act in
a monopolistic fashion harming its consumers and destroying its competitors. Jackson
ruled that Microsoft broke sections one and two of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Sherman
Antitrust Act was proposed in 1890 to prevent trusts from creating restraints on trade or
commerce, and reducing competition. It was designed to maintain economic liberty. The
sections Microsoft was accused of not abiding by was section two which states that
Microsoft unlawfully maintained a monopoly in the worldwide market for Intel-compatible
PC operating systems and attempted to monopolize the market for Web browsing software.
Section one states that Microsoft unlawfully tied its web browsing software to its Window
95 and Window 98 operating system. Jackson ordered the company to be broken up within
ninety days of the ruling and demanded that it follow strict rules of behavior called
conduct remedies, even as it appeals his break-up decision. Jackson also is demanding the
case be moved straight to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, Microsoft will be appealing
Jackson's ruling.