Indiana Wesleyan University United States versus Microsoft Discussion

ADM-477: Business Law

I can provide book link if needed.

Getting Started

Perhaps one of the most famous monopoly cases in American business history involves the Microsoft Corporation. For years, Microsoft dominated the PC operating system market. As its operating system grew in popularity, so did the company’s word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. In fact, by the 1990s, Microsoft enjoyed a near monopoly in the application software arena. To maintain its dominance, the company used various tactics to impede competition. For example, it restricted competitor browser access to its operating system and designed its operating system to be incompatible with competitor application software.

The government sued Microsoft for its monopolistic practices, and the antitrust case was eventually settled. In the years following its settlement of the antitrust case against it, Microsoft has paid billions of dollars to settle cases with competitors, such as, AOL, IBM, and Sun Microsystems. Proponents of antitrust law view the Microsoft case as a victory, because it forced Microsoft to change its unfair trade practices and compensate competitors for the harm caused by them.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

• Explain the various antitrust and unfair trade practice laws.

Resources

• Textbook: The Legal Environment of Business

Background Information

The Federal Trade Commission is the government agency responsible for the enforcement of the Sherman Act, which regulates monopolies. Section 2 of the Sherman Act makes it illegal to monopolize any part of interstate or foreign commerce. It further prohibits any attempt or conspiracy to monopolize any part of interstate or foreign commerce. Cases involving attempts to secure a monopoly are very difficult to prosecute, because the government must show that the party had the intent to impede competition or achieve monopoly power. The existence of monopoly power is not in and of itself sufficient to prove wrongdoing. The government must show that the party used unfair trade practices to acquire and/or maintain its monopoly. Cases involving conspiracy require that the government prove intent to form a monopoly along with conduct aimed at accomplishing the intent.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. In your textbook, The Legal Environment of Business, read Chapter 20, “Antitrust Law.”
3. Using the Internet, research the United States v. Microsoft antitrust case.
4. In a one- to two-page paper, explain:Facts of the caseProcedural history of the caseQuestions of law before the courtOutcome of the litigationWhy you either support or oppose the outcome of the litigation
5. Your one- to two-page paper should be 250 to 500 words.
6. Follow APA formatting, including using 12-point font.
7. Correct use of citations and references is required.
8. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself, and submit a copy to your instructor using the Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop.

2/11/22, 12:55 PM
Preview Rubric: Course Assignments – 4WI2021 Business Law (ADM-447-01B) – Indiana Wesleyan University
Course Assignments
Course: 4WI2021 Business Law (ADM-447-01B)
Criteria
Content
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
30 points
25 points
20 points
15 points
(26–30 points
possible)
(21–25 points
possible)
(16–20 points
possible)
(0–15 points possible)
You address all of the
requirements of the
assignment.
You address most of
the requirements of
the assignment.
You address some of
the requirements of
the assignment.
You address few or
none of the
requirements of the
assignment.
You display excellent
organization.
You display very good
organization.
You display good
organization.
You do not display
effective organization.
https://brightspace.indwes.edu/d2l/lp/rubrics/preview.d2l?ou=158670&rubricId=488082&originTool=quicklinks
Criterion Score
/ 30
1/3
2/11/22, 12:55 PM
Criteria
Critical Thinking
Preview Rubric: Course Assignments – 4WI2021 Business Law (ADM-447-01B) – Indiana Wesleyan University
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
20 points
15 points
10 points
5 points
(16–20 points
possible)
(11–15 points
possible)
(6–10 points possible)
(0–5 points possible)
You demonstrate clear,
insightful critical
thinking when you:
You demonstrate
competent critical
thinking when you:
You demonstrate
limited critical thinking
when you:
You demonstrate little
or no critical thinking
when you:
Examine key
issues.
Scrutinize the
meaning of the
information.
Apply relevant
criteria to the
problem or
issue.
Describe key
issues.
Describe the
content of the
source
materials.
Describe the
meaning of the
information.
Define the
criteria and
reasoning used
to make
judgments.
https://brightspace.indwes.edu/d2l/lp/rubrics/preview.d2l?ou=158670&rubricId=488082&originTool=quicklinks
Mention key
issues.
Record the
content found
in the source
materials.
Identify
potential
meanings of the
information.
Identify criteria
used for making
judgments.
Criterion Score
/ 20
Do not raise key
issues.
Miss key source
materials.
Ignore or
misrepresent
the meaning of
the information.
Do not use
criteria or use
invalid criteria
for making
judgments.
2/3
2/11/22, 12:55 PM
Criteria
Grammar, Spelling,
Length, and
Citation
Preview Rubric: Course Assignments – 4WI2021 Business Law (ADM-447-01B) – Indiana Wesleyan University
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
10 points
7 points
4 points
2 points
(8–10 points possible)
(5–7 points possible)
(3–4 points possible)
(0–2 points possible)
Your sentence
structure is complete,
with correct spelling,
punctuation, and
capitalization, and
varied diction and
word choice.
Your sentence
structure has minor
errors (fragments, runons), with correct
spelling, punctuation,
and capitalization, but
limited diction and
word choice.
Your sentence
structure has several
errors in sentence
fluency, with multiple
fragments/run-ons and
poor spelling,
punctuation, and/or
word choice
Your sentence
structure has serious
and persistent errors in
sentence fluency,
spelling, punctuation,
and/or word choice.
Your assignment
length is correct, with
minor errors in APA
formatting.
Your assignment
length is inadequate,
with several APA
errors.
Your assignment
length is correct, with
correct APA
formatting.
Total
Criterion Score
/ 10
Your assignment
length is inadequate
with several APA
errors.
/ 60
Overall Score
Total Points
0 points minimum
https://brightspace.indwes.edu/d2l/lp/rubrics/preview.d2l?ou=158670&rubricId=488082&originTool=quicklinks
3/3