Information technology has become one of the major driving forces of the global economy, in which application tools of the information age have been used to increase.
efficiency, productivity, and interconnectedness. Microsoft has been recognized as one of the primary companies responsible for introducing personal computing and software to consumers and ultimately launching America into the information age. Personal computing has become.
ubiquitous and a necessity in maintaining effective communication. Since the introduction of Windows in 1985, Microsoft has become an industry giant in the software and computing industry. However, throughout most of its recent history Microsoft has been subject to continual government investigation; an inquiry that ultimately led to the United States" suit against Microsoft for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and 20 other states filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Microsoft Corporation in 1998. The 20 states were New York, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. .
The Microsoft Antitrust Case has provided a wealth of debate on the future and relevancy of antitrust laws in the information economy. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the Microsoft Antitrust Case and present various perspectives on the applicability of.
antitrust laws in the information age. This paper is not intended to provide an opinion on the Microsoft Case, but instead present the two perspectives from the U.S. government and Microsoft. In providing the context for the Microsoft Antitrust Case and the information economy, this paper will also provide an overview of monopolies, antitrust law, characteristics of the information economy, and perspectives on the future state of monopolies.