Submitted by: Submitted by kp03
Views: 264
Words: 441
Pages: 2
Category: Business and Industry
Date Submitted: 08/15/2012 09:04 PM
Microsoft and the Monopoly
Kyle Pederson
KP03@comcast.net
Microsoft and the Monopoly
Microsoft is a very large and diverse computer software company. It was
investigated for antitrust behavior after there were reports that Microsoft was abusing their
position as the leading supplier of computer operating systems. Lawmakers investigated to
see if Microsoft was trying to create a monopoly of the computer software market. They
found that Microsoft was trying to cause a monopoly in the computer industry.
Here are the facts that support their findings. Microsoft developed Microsoft Office
products that catered to the needs of professional in all types of fields, these products will
only operate in a Windows operating system, which is a Microsoft system. When the early
stages of the internet stared, Microsoft tried to push out and eliminate their competitors
when it came to web browsing. It provided Internet Explore free of charge in all of their
operating systems. This was at a time where people were being charged for AOL or Netscape
Navigator. Microsoft was guilty of “exclusive dealing”. This is a regulation that gives them sole
rights to a certain product. This prevented their competition from entering the market
with their products. Microsoft used a pricing schedule which was a benefit for Windows
users, but if you were on a different operating system products or services would cost more.
This was often a deterrent for people that use a different system than Microsoft.
Yes, I agree that Microsoft tried to monopolize the market. Monopolies can
affect both the market and the providers. It can cause artificial pricing, a demand for products
that are always in short supply, and have multiple complaints with little to no response, and
often times, consumers are not able to change to other products or services possibly due to contract agreements.
On the other hand it is possible to have a monopoly be a good thing and...