microsoft a monopoly

             The potential breakup of the Microsoft Corporation is presently one of the most consuming issues in our society. The government has declared Microsoft a monopoly, and could possibly be broken up into three pieces. This has come as a shock to most everyone, because "Microsoft Windows" is usually the first thing that pops up on almost everyone's computer when you first turn it on.
             The government says that Microsoft has violated the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which is designed to protect customers against businesses that are fixing prices, rigging bids, or allocating customers. They are doing this by giving away their Microsoft Internet Explorer browser in order to keep Netscape from becoming a competitive force, and it is illegal for a company to undercharge their products for the sole purpose of driving their competitors out of business. Microsoft has tied together their web browser with Windows so that people will have both of their products without having to worry about people buying the Netscape Navigator web browser. (Sullivan)
             However, Microsoft and Netscape are not the only ones involved in this conflict. America Online, one of the most popular Internet service providers today, is also a major force in this possible outcome. Microsoft agreed to put a link in their Windows system if America Online would use Microsoft Internet Explorer instead of Netscape Navigator as their web browser. This is also a major issue because "it's illegal to leverage a monopoly position in one product to force companies to agree to distribute another of the monopoly owner's products at the expense of the competitor" (Sullivan).
             Microsoft argues though, that Windows and Internet Explorer are "effectively one integrated product" (Sullivan). They also argued that America Online picked them because they had a better product, and that America Online felt that Microsoft Internet Explo
             ...

More Essays:

APA     MLA     Chicago
microsoft a monopoly. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 10:03, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/56095.html