Updated: July 12, 2020 (November 17, 2003)

  Analyst Report

Antitrust Fears Remain Despite Settlements

My Atlas / Analyst Reports

960 wordsTime to read: 5 min

Settlements have been reached or proposed in six class-action antitrust lawsuits, continuing Microsoft’s recent drive to settle private antitrust cases. Nonetheless, the company’s antitrust woes will continue for some time: the European Union (EU) is conducting hearings in preparation for reaching a verdict on its investigation into certain of Microsoft’s business practices, and the company’s settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) is being questioned by the judge in the case and appealed by the state of Massachusetts.

Class-Action Suits Winding Up

Ever since Apr. 2000, when a U.S. district court ruled that Microsoft had a monopoly in desktop OSs, the company has faced a spate of private antitrust lawsuits brought by consumers who alleged the company overcharged them for Windows and certain applications. In Oct. and Nov. 2003, Microsoft announced that three of these class-action suits, brought by consumers in the District of Columbia (D.C.), North Carolina, and Kansas, have been settled. In addition, three tentative settlements have been reached for suits in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Tennessee. (These settlements must still be approved by the presiding judges.)

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