Microsoft Vs Justice Department Essay - 785 words

In late October 1997, the Justice Department was again interrogating Microsoft. They have been at this since 1993, when they took over from the frustrated Federal Trade Commission. The computer industry of today is exploding more and more as time passes, and competition follows. I think this is a good topic because the world today is surrounded by computers, and it will continue to be this way.


It is safe to say that Bill Gates and Microsoft are leading this new revolution, maybe even too much. Microsoft Windows is no doubt a monopoly, but is it a legal one? A legal monopoly is subject to government-regulated prices. Microsoft Windows is an example of this, and its 'Windows's oftware is used worldwide on every IBM-compatible PC sold today. Patent laws protect Microsoft's idea, and this is why they are a monopoly. Now back to the question at hand.


Is Microsoft a legal monopoly? Microsoft Windows is a legal Monopoly, but Microsoft is an illegal monopoly because they force consumers to use other software that comes along with Windows. Netscape Navigator is a well-known World Wide Web browsing tool that is not affiliated with Microsoft. Microsoft Internet Explorer (MIE) is Microsoft's very similar version of a World Wide Web browsing tool that comes along with Windows. Every PC with Windows 95 or newer has MIE embedded into Windows. It is possible to remove the MIE icon from your desktop, but removing MIE files from your computer will result in a loss of necessary files needed to run Windows.


Therefore, you cannot remove MIE from your computer. This has brought much concern to the Justice Department. If every IBM-compatible PC comes with Windows, and Windows comes with MIE, then why buy Netscape Navigator? The Justice Department feels this is an unfair advantage.


Microsoft is using its monopolistic powers through its Windows patent, to force consumers to use other software. This severely brings down Netscape's, and other competitions profits. It is also extremely unjust. Microsoft argues that they are just being a tough competitor, and are trying to compete against Netscape. Facing a contempt citation in 1998, Microsoft signed an agreement giving computer makers freedom to install Windows 95 without an MIE icon.


So once again, the ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: netscape navigator, microsoft internet explorer, ibm compatible, anti trust, microsoft windows

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