Abstract

The allegations of competitors against Microsoft’s behavior aiming for monopoly form the core of this caselet. The counter arguments given by Microsoft with regard to the allegations against it, and the ruling of the EU court related to the trade practices of Microsoft are also covered.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Allegations against Microsoft’s monopoly instincts
• Sanctions imposed by the European Union court on Microsoft
• How Microsoft is restricting healthy competition in the software market
• and Counter argument by Microsoft over the allegations of practices of monopoly by the company.

Keywords

European Union's Executive Commission (EC), Microsoft Corporation, Windows Media Player (WMP), Sun Microsystems, Windows operating system, European Union (EU), Apple Computer Inc., Real Networks, European Court of First Instance (CFI), European Court of Justice (ECJ)