Antitrust Misconduct Issues 4

    Another major issue in the case is Microsoft's price policies for distributing windows to computer manufacturers. Compaq once signed an agreement with AOL to replace the MSN icon (Microsoft's internet provider) with an AOL one on all its desktops. Microsoft threatened to withdraw Compaq's Windows license, claiming this as an infringement of their Windows copyright, and Compaq reversed its decision. In return for its loyalty, Compaq now pays less than other computer manufacturers for Windows.

    Several other allegations have been raised of Microsoft's anticompetitive practices. Among them, they may have offered Intuit, another ISP, a bribe to coerce them to switch browsers from Netscape to Internet Explorer. They also made an agreement to place an AOL icon on the desktop of all Windows computers in exchange for AOL switching to the Internet Explorer browser, and began scrutinizing AOL's dealings to make sure they were remaining loyal and not promoting competitor's products (especially Netscape) in any way.

    Finally, it is alleged that Microsoft licensed the Java language, designed to run on any computer platform, and produced its own "polluted" version of Java that would only run on the Windows platform in an attempt to undermine the multiplatform nature of the language, which was perceived as a threat to Microsoft's domination of the OS market.

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