EDITORIAL : FIGHTING GOLIATH RENO TRIES TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF MICROSOFT.ATTORNEY General Janet Reno Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the first and to date only female Attorney General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. has found someone outside the White House who is worthy of her ire - Microsoft. Reno accused Microsoft of abusing its monopoly by requiring computer makers to accept Internet Explorer Microsoft's Web browser, which comes with Windows starting with Windows 98. Commonly called "IE," versions for Mac and Unix are also available. Internet Explorer is the most widely used Web browser on the market. It has also been the browser engine in AOL's Internet access software. when they buy its operating software. She asked U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson Thomas Penfield Jackson (born January 10, 1937) was a United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia. He was appointed in 1982 after serving as president of the District of Columbia Bar Association. He is currently an attorney with the Jackson and Campbell, P.C. to fine the company $1 million a day for violating terms of a 2-year-old consent decree A settlement of a lawsuit or criminal case in which a person or company agrees to take specific actions without admitting fault or guilt for the situation that led to the lawsuit. A consent decree is a settlement that is contained in a court order. . Microsoft countered that Internet Explorer is not a separate product but is rather an improvement of the Windows 95 operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. . The fight centers on a relatively simple question that could have a far-reaching impact on the software world: What is a personal computer operating system? For years, smaller companies have complained to federal antitrust authorities about Microsoft's aggressive effort to incorporate new functions into its Windows operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. , letting computer users do things that formerly required them to buy a separate, free-standing software programs. Monday's suit against Microsoft, however, represents the first time the government has raised questions about that process. ``Microsoft is unlawfully taking advantage of its Windows monopoly to protect and extend that monopoly and to undermine consumer choice,'' Reno said. But convincing a judge that consumers suffer when they get new features at no extra cost is going to be tough. And what is the line between making your product better and monopolizing another market? The government says it has evidence, from Microsoft's files, that the company considers Internet Explorer to be a separate product from Windows 95. The Justice Department also says it can prove that Microsoft threatened to withhold Windows 95 from computer manufacturers that didn't put Internet Explorer on their machines. Ironically, under the ``law of unintended consequences For the "Law of unintended consequences", see Unintended consequence Unintended Consequences is a novel by author John Ross, first published in 1996 by Accurate Press. ,'' Microsoft's earnings might actually increase if it were forced to sell its browser as a separate product, not part of Windows 95. This case is worth watching for several reasons, including whether the Justice Department is competent enough to tackle a complicated case, how government tries to regulate a far-reaching and growing industry, and how Microsoft seems to win, regardless of the outcome. |
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