l start up companies, having very limited capital. They couldn't afford to pay both Microsoft and another company for a different operating system. In 1994 The United States Justice Department barred Microsoft from engaging in this sort of extortion, but it was already too late, the Operating System monopoly had been realized.(PC Week)After the 1994 decision, Microsoft resorted to a new anti-competitive tactic. Yet another clause in the operating system licensing agreement between Microsoft and the computer manufacturers requires the first computer screen any user sees on startup to contain whatever message Microsoft pleases, and to also feature the software content of Microsoft's choosing. This crafty marketing spites the entire concept of competition. It handcuffs the PC hardware manufacturers, who are compelled to submissively promote the Microsoft product line on each and every computer they sell. This is clearly a handicap to third party software vendors like Corel and Adobe. This practice also hurts the consumer by limiting personal choices. Even though there may be far superior products on the market, the PC manufacturing companies are legally obligated to only include Microsoft products. In 1985 Apple Computer was forced into licensing some of their user interface elements to Microsoft, for incorporation into Windows version 1.0. This license was granted only after Microsoft threatened to discontinue development of Macintosh applications. Microsoft was the leading developer of Mac programs, and without their software, Apple would have been doomed to bankruptcy. Apple had no choice but to give in to Microsoft's demands.(Los Angeles Times 2)Microsoft also threatened three computer companies over Internet browser contracts. Compaq, Gateway and Micron computers wanted to replace Microsoft's Internet Explorer with another World Wide Web browser. Not only did Microsoft say no, but court records filed in Washington D.C. stated that Mic...
