Abstract This paper analyzes the DOJ antitrust case brought against Microsoft Corporation for anticompetitive and monopolistic practices. The analysis uses economic theory and provides a review of the case in order to determine the validity of the charges against the high-tech giant.
From the Paper "Microsoft Corporation represents a behemoth company that leads the world's technological industry. With more than a billion in cash reserves and another billion in investments the company is poised ..."
This paper discusses the General Accounting Office (GAO) report on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), titled, "Status of Achieving Key Outcomes and Addressing Major Management Challenges".
Abstract This paper explains that the 2001 GAO review of DOJ, a routine assessment conducted in compliance with federal law, the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) was put into place because waste and inefficiency undermine the confidence of the American people. The author believes that the current Attorney General, John Ashcroft, a hard-line, religious-right, ultra-conservative, has shown a contempt for the Bill of Rights. The paper states that the GAO should not be given more power, but the Congress has a duty to enter into a new post-9/11 phase and stand up to the Executive Branch to independently protect Americans from waste, abuse, and mismanagement of resources.
Table of Contents
The GAO Critiques DOJ Internet-Based Research of DOJ Conclusion
From the Paper "As to the first of DOJ's "planned outcomes" ? less violence related to gangs and drugs ? the GAO in its summary states that DOJ ?fell short of achieving its performance targets for four measures.? Looking into those failures a bit more closely (p. 8), DOJ had said it would try to perform 4.81 million "criminal background checks" ? and yet it only conducted 4.49 million checks. Also, the GAO says that while DOJ claims it prevented 71,890 "ineligible" individuals from purchasing firearms, the GAO says DOJ missed its target of preventing 140,244 persons from buying guns."
Abstract Since its formation in 1975, Microsoft has grown rapidly to become one of the largest and most successful companies in the world. However, since 1990, it has been plagued by a series of investigations by the US Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on various antitrust allegations. This culminated in a major antitrust lawsuit filed against the company 18 May 1998. This paper provides an analysis of the above case, including the findings of facts, conclusions of law, the remedies proposed, the outcome of appeals filed as well as the proposed settlement reached in November 2001. The paper first, presents some background information on Microsoft and its major products. This is followed by a review of its conduct which resulted in the above-mentioned lawsuit filed against it. Next, the paper outlines the allegations made by the plaintiffs against Microsoft as well as the position taken by the company. This is followed by an account of the findings of fact, which found Microsoft guilty of almost all the allegations against it, conclusions of law, proposed remedies, outcome of appeals filed and settlement pact.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
What is Microsoft all About?
Microsoft Responds to the Internet Revolution
The Plaintiff's Attack
Microsoft Defends Itself
The Judge Releases his Findings of Fact
Assessment of Findings of Fact
Aftermath of Findings of Fact
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "To do so, it began by investing US$100 million a year in Internet research and development and developed its own browser, the Internet Explorer (IE). It then carried out a slew of measures to promote IE as the browser of choice among Internet users. These included the free distribution of the browser software; bundling its browser with the Windows operating system when selling it to PC manufacturers and refusing to offer them the option of purchasing the operating system without the browser; and preventing PC makers from removing IE from the operating system, including the visible means of user access to the IE software, such as the IE icon on the Windows desktop or the IE entry in the "Start" menu."
While Bill Gates may have represented the American dream, his actions in his company Microsoft have been staunchly attacked. This paper analyzes what happened and what the future holds for the man and the multi-billion dollar company.
2,459 words (approx. 9.8 pages), 27 sources, 2002, $ 74.95
Abstract This paper is divided into five parts. It analyzes and examines the plethora of issues involved in the Microsoft antitrust case. Part II offers a brief summary of the facts and issues of the Microsoft antitrust case. In Part III, stakeholders involved in the Microsoft antitrust case are evaluated. Part IV outlines what portion of the life cycle the Microsoft antitrust case is in. In Part V, recommendations for addressing the various issues of the Microsoft antitrust case are summarized. The paper has comprehensive footnotes.
From the Paper "Individuals and investment firms are other stakeholders involved in the Microsoft antitrust case. These groups have legitimacy because their money is invested in Microsoft, which gives them the right to express their opinions regarding the company in the form of votes. Likewise, individuals and investment firms who own Microsoft stock have power because they may elect to sell their shares as a result of displeasure with the company's actions. If large numbers of individuals and investment firms eliminate or reduce their Microsoft holdings, the company's stock price will likely fall."
Abstract This paper discusses the duties of the Attorney General of the United States. Specifically, it contains an analysis of how the Attorney General is chosen, and the powers they wield in the government. A brief history of the position is presented, and the current Attorney General, John Ashcroft, is introduced. The paper claims that the Attorney General is one of the most important offices in the Federal Government.
From the Paper "The Attorney General of the United States is in charge of the Justice Department (DOJ) and the chief law enforcement officer of the United States Federal Government. The Attorney General advises the President and other members of the executive department of the government on legal issues. An addition, "The Attorney General appears in person to represent the Government before the U.S. Supreme Court in cases of exceptional gravity or importance" (DOJ)."
Abstract This paper explains that, in 1993, the Justice Department (DOJ) began an investigation into the allegations that (1) Microsoft used predatory pricing tactics to destroy competitors and eliminate competition in the marketplace and (2) erected technical barriers within their operating systems to make it difficult or impossible for non-Microsoft software to run on Windows; on July 15, 1994, in a consent decree, Microsoft agreed that it would not tie other Microsoft products into its Windows operating system. The author points out that this dominance was due to Microsoft's (1) development of a common user interface, which allows users to use similar commands in each of the individual application products, (2) concept of backward compatibility so that the older versions of applications work with newer versions of the operating system and (3) integration of its individual applications allowed users to create and use data between applications such as a spreadsheet created in Excel could be imported into a PowerPoint presentation. The paper continues to describe several other anti-trust cases such as the 2004 agreement with the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and Novell.
From the Paper "In order to understand the environment in which the Microsoft anti-trust actions occurred, it is necessary to examine the beginnings of Microsoft. After an early career as a hacker, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Traf-O-Data in Seattle, Washington, a company started to develop and market a machine to generate traffic flow statistics. This machine was not the success that Gates and Allen hoped for, however. It may have been the youthfulness of the owners (Gates was 16), or it may have been that the state of Washington began to offer the same services for free."
