Author(s)
Robert W. Hahn
Source
AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies, September 2001
Summary
This paper asks if Microsoft should be forced to delay the release of a key product.
Policy Relevance
Regulatory actions taken to penalize a business can also hurt its customers and other economic players.
Main Points
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In 2001, some argued that Microsoft should be prevented from releasing its new product Windows XP, because Microsoft was too powerful.
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The author notes that stopping Windows XP would not help any firm make an operating system likely to challenge Windows.
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Delaying the release of Windows XP would hurt
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Consumers who use computers.
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PC manufacturers.
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Software developers, including some of Microsoft’s competitors whose products run on XP.
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Microsoft’s competitors used the legal system to get an advantage in the market.