Microsoft’s anti‐trust tryst: ethical implications: The dangers of monopolies and their effects on society

With more twists and turns and more ups and downs than a roller coaster ride, Microsoft’s anti‐trust case rumbles on. The latest turn? After being told that it does not have to break into two after all (a perceived victory snatched from the jaws of defeat), the software giant is now in trouble with the courts for failing to carry out the necessary amendments to its software fast enough. The actions undertaken by Microsoft are not unique – monopolies, tying agreements and exclusive dealings have come under scrutiny for years. However, the length of the dispute, the magnitude of the company and the implication for the future is, in Microsoft’s case, unprecedented.