Publication
Villanova Law Review
Volume
44
Page
67
Year
1999
Abstract
RAPID developments in the software industry underlie both the Gov ernment's antitrust proceedings against the Microsoft Corporation 1 and the lawsuit brought by Sun Microsystems, Inc. ("Sun") against Microsoft in which Sun is asserting claims grounded in breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. 2 In October 1997, the Government challenged the Microsoft Corporation's right to bundle its internet browser (the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0) with its Windows 95 operating system. 3 That proceeding was brought as a request for an order to show cause why Microsoft should not be held in contempt for violating a consent decree ending a suit brought by the Government in 1995, the primary focus of which was on Microsoft's licensing practices. In May 1998, the Government instituted a new action against Microsoft. This new action again challenged Microsoft's bundling of its browser with its operat ing system, including its new Windows 98 operating system. 4 In the new action, the Government also challenged the tie as monopolization and at tempted monopolization. 5 In addition, the Government added other claims, including an alleged attempt to divide the browser market with Netscape 6 and several agreements with internet services providers and in ternet content providers, 7 matters which are not discussed in this Article.
Recommended Citation
Daniel J. Gifford, Java and Microsoft: How Does the Antitrust Story Unfold?, 44 Vill. L. Rev. 67 (1999), available at https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/faculty_articles/339.
