from the Justice Department. Netscape had accused the company “of going beyond vigorous competition into the realm of illegal tactics in the browser war,” (Just. Dept. Examining 1). Netscape also charged, through letters to the Justice Department, that Microsoft had violated its 1994 consent decree (settlement) with the government by offering PC manufacturers a $3 discount on Windows 95 for giving their browser, Internet Explorer, a more prominent place on computer screens than Netscape’s browser, Navigator. Further complicating Microsoft’s problems, they received another civil investigative demand in May of this year (1997). This time, the Department of Justice was seeking internal documents having to do with Microsoft’s planned purchase of WebTV for $425 million. “WebTV is a start-up producer of set-top boxes that bring the Internet to television sets,” (US Requests…1). A major industry is expected to develop from the delivering of the Internet via television and other home appliances. So, the opportunity to be among the first in a very promising market is what attracted the company to WebTV. About the same time the government was looking into Microsoft’s purchase, The Oracle Corp, announced it was buying control of Navio Communications Inc. Navio was developed by Netscape Communications, which, “[facing] ever-stiffer competition from Microsoft…decided to conserve it’s financial resources and shed Navio,” (US Requests…2). Microsoft officials pointed to this move by Oracle in response to the government’s most recent allegations. They claimed that the deal was a sign that their purchase of WebTV was prompting capable companies to get into the market, thereby promoting competition. Drawing further attention to itself, Microsoft invested in Apple Computers. They purchased $125 million in non-voting stock. This act was seen by many, upon first glance,...
