Author(s)
Robert W. Hahn
Source
AEI-Brookings Joint Center Policy Matters 01-19, July 2001
Summary
This paper looks at how the antitrust suit against Microsoft could be settled.
Policy Relevance
The economy needs firms like Microsoft to lead growth, and resistance to settling the suit hurts everyone.
Main Points
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The lower court judge in the antitrust suit against Microsoft originally ordered Microsoft be broken up into two companies: one that made operating systems and another that made applications software.
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The appeals court rejected many of the lower court’s conclusions, making it likely that the Department of Justice and Microsoft might reach a compromise settlement.
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The appeals court ruled that adding browser software to the Windows operating system (“tying”) was legal unless the government showed consumers would be hurt.