MS & the Consent Decree
MS & the Consent Decree
Next the Department of Justice took up the investigation against Microsoft. In July 1994, Microsoft signed a consent decree saying they would not require computer manufacturers to license any other product when they sign a license for Windows. Microsoft is quick to point out that the decree also explicitly protects Microsoft's right to develop integrated software products.
Microsoft was at the time developing a new version of Windows that closely integrated Internet Explorer features, and bundled a working version of the web browser with the operating system. The DOJ began investigating Microsoft's licensing practices 14 months after the release of the first version of this operating system, and the allegations uncovered didn't go to trial until more than 2 years later, much too late for Microsoft to remedy its design so that Internet Explorer would not be so closely tied to the operating system.