Mitchell, a senior fellow in political economy at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington – based public policy research institute, “monopolies hurt consumers because they lead to higher prices and reduced output.” (Mitchell, 2001) However, this is the opposite of what Microsoft has created. Computer software has become much more available and much less expensive. Today, people have a wide selection of software that they can buy, and they do not even have to spend so much money. The software is really good and the prices are acceptable. Also, monopolies are supposed to stop caring what the consumers think. But the attackers against Microsoft complain that it cares too much what the consumers think. They are apparently willing to cover every demand the consumers want, which is somehow bad and needs to be stopped. But I really do not see, how it is hurting their customers and why is Microsoft monopoly. By being so efficient, they have earned a leading position in the market. Through a combination of innovative products, attractive prices and aggressive marketing, they have become the best out of the best and the proper name they achieved is not monopoly, but market dominance. Chris Holton also said: “Without choice, we would all wear the same shoes, buy the same make of car, and have exactly the same software programs on our computers.” (Holton, 1997) And he is right. But if people should have the freedom of choice, then they should also have the freedom to innovate, create and produce. And with this freedom, such a thing as people wearing the same shoes, buying the same make of car, and having exactly the same software programs on their computers, would never happen. And that is all that Microsoft is doing. They are just innovating and protecting their rights to innovate. “ We’re defending our right to innovate” (Gates, 1998)
The anti-trust law is only putting a threat to this economic freedom. When Bill Gates and his friend have founded the Microsoft, they have worked very hard from the early beginning to develop such a successful company as Microsoft. Now, their operation system is the most popular in the whole world and the competitors with the government just want to restrict them from more innovating. Microsoft’s ads reads: “Every wave of innovation and integration creates another wave of great ides … imagine if someone had tried to stop innovation in automobiles in the 1920s, or TVs in the 1950s … in the same way no one should try to freeze software innovation in 1998.” For example automobiles, when first made, had only a very simple exterior and interior. Later, the windows were added, carpeting, air conditioning, radios and so on. The outcome of that were better and advanced cars.