Reply #69: Long antitrust saga ends for Microsoft

[xchrom]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2015029604_microsoft12.html

Microsoft has spent 21 years — more than half its lifetime — fighting antitrust battles with the U.S. government. It has earned a page in the history books, waging one of the biggest monopoly wars in this country.

The company barely escaped being split up after it was ruled an unlawful monopolist in 2000 for using its stranglehold on the PC market with its Windows operating system to cripple competitors, such as Netscape's Navigator Web browser.

A court settlement approved in 2002 and a consent decree curbing some of its practices saved Microsoft.

Both sides will finally be at peace Thursday, when the decree expires.