When Microsoft added its Internet browser into Windows, they did it with the same intention as the car manufacturers, and that was to improve their software and “to give consumers innovative tools and products that will make their lives better.” (Gates, 1998) And that is vigorous economic evolution. But the Justice Department claims that it is unfair competition when Microsoft is offering the Internet Explorer only as part of Windows. However, the makers of carpeting, radios or air conditioning could have charged the carmakers with unfair competition as well. But if that had happened, people would be still driving the same kind of cars as in 1920s. So that is why Microsoft spends so much time and so much money for researching and developing new products and features. Bill Gates says, that “they are working very hard in developing software that will help computers interact with people more naturally – computers that will be able to see, listen and learn.” (Gates, 1998) Those are futuristic features and it will take a long time before they reach people’s desktops. But if the government or somebody else tries to stop the innovation, they might never reach anyone’s desktop, or will be more costly and more complicated to use. Some people are complaining that Microsoft is restricting access to the industry. In real, they are the least restrictive of all businesses in any industry. Microsoft, unlike any other company in any other industry, can do absolutely to keep someone form getting other operating systems. Anyone can go and get a different one. Microsoft can not cut the supply of operating systems in any way. Even if it ever did so, people could simply buy other kinds instead, or even get one that is for free and is the second most popular operating systems, after Windows.
Microsoft was also accused of giving away their browser for free. It sounds like that is bad for the consumers. But in real, it is bad for the company, when they are giving away their product for free. Many other companies are giving away their products absolutely free as well. For example Yahoo. Its search services are for free and nobody seems to be complaining about it. As a matter of fact, Netscape has done the same thing as well. “Netscape started giving away its browser for free in an effort to compete with Microsoft.” (Andrea Orr, 1998) So why did not the trustbusters do anything about it. It is because the government is just trying to protect the “little guy”; in this case it is the company that cannot compete the successful Microsoft. That is really unfair to Microsoft. Netscape ones too had a dominant power in the industry. They once totally controlled the browser company with their product.