Antitrust Cases: Microsoft vs. Google

SOURCE www.npr.org
Microsoft's antitrust case in the late 1990s serves as a key reference point for the current antitrust case involving Google and the U.S. government. The ruling against Microsoft helped shape current antitrust laws and is being used as a guide for deciding penalties against Google. Both cases revolve around allegations of monopolistic practices in the tech industry.

Key Points

  • Microsoft's antitrust case from the late 1990s serves as a key reference point for the ongoing antitrust case involving Google and the U.S. government
  • The ruling against Microsoft helped shape current antitrust laws, especially in relation to tech companies
  • The penalties imposed on Microsoft set a legal precedent for how the U.S. government could pursue monopolistic practices in the tech industry
  • Google is facing similar allegations of monopolistic practices and the DOJ is using the Microsoft case as a guide for deciding penalties against Google

Pros

  • Established legal precedent for pursuing monopolistic practices in the tech industry
  • Guiding current antitrust laws and decisions against big tech companies
  • Opened the door for new competitors like Apple and Google

Cons

  • Controversy over whether Microsoft's penalties were adequate or if the company got off lightly