Microsoft vs. Netscape: The war of browsers

Résumé du document

In the middle of the 90's, a large-scale scandal shook the new market of Internet browsers. The protagonists of this affair were Netscape, the pioneer of the sector and Microsoft, the Bill Gate's powerful firm. Beyond the conflict between both companies, this scandal is interesting because it raises a lot of questions, especially that of the antitrust laws of the free-market economy. Having explained the beginning of the conflict and having presented both companies, we shall focus on the lawsuit, the theses in its presence and exit.

Extraits

[...] Microsoft vs. Netscape: The war of browsers ECOLE SUPERIEURE DES SCIENCES COMMERCIALES Microsoft vs. Netscape: The war of browsers In the middle of the 90's, a large-scale scandal shakes the new market of Internet browsers. The protagonists of this affair are Netscape, the pioneer of the sector and Microsoft, the Bill Gate's powerful firm. Beyond the conflict between both companies, this scandal is interesting because it raises a lot of questions, especially that of the laws antitrust and of the free-market economy. [...]

[...] As a conclusion, the verdict was in favour of Netscape because it was judged that Microsoft abused of its dominant position. In our opinion, this verdict is justified but partially: indeed, from the version Internet Explorer takes him on the technical plan, and this advance will not contradict itself then any more. To get closer to the thesis defended by Microsoft, should we not privilege the interest of the consumer to that of companies? Bibliography http://www.infopackets.com/channels/en/windows/gazette/2002/20020709_mic rosoft_trust_antitrust_and_the_antichrist.htm http://news.com.com/2100-1001-820227.html http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-820268.html http://www.developer.com/net/net/article.php/959651 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/business/2000/microsoft/635689.stm http://solutions.journaldunet.com/0208/020823_netscrosoft.shtml Barksdale reveals these facts dated of 21 June 1995. [...]

[...] For the company, the problem lives in the fact that Microsoft has a monopoly in the field of operational systems and takes advantage of it to impose Explorer to the manufacturers of computers. Furthermore, one of the main arguments of Netscape deals with the Microsoft‘s threat on PC manufacturers and Internet services provider. As Barksdale said in his testimony: “Microsoft began to use its market power to extract exclusionary deals with many of his interlocutors”. The CEO of Netscape also denounces the attempt of alliance proposed by Microsoft. [...]

[...] In 1995, Bill Gates told Microsoft executives "Now I assign the internet the highest level of importance." and was able in December to launch his own browser Internet Explorer, distributed free of charge with Windows 95. Created in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft crossed by different stages during its history. In years 80, the firm was selling the Microsoft Windows operating system and MS-DOS, and had collaborated with IBM. By 1992, Microsoft released an introduction in the stock market and decided to focus on Windows. [...]