Microsoft does, of course, have considerable detractors who scoff at its seeming inability to excel in anything outside of its monopoly operating system and suite of Office products.
Remember that even under a government monopoly currency system, money is still created not by government, but by financial institutions, which bring dollars into existence through the act of extending credit.
Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) does, of course, have considerable detractors who scoff at its seeming inability to excel in anything outside of its monopoly operating system and suite of Office products.
The tarnishing of its once-platinum reputation began long before June, when a U.S. judge found Microsoft guilty of violating anti-trust laws by leveraging its operating system monopoly to take over other parts of the software business.
Modern weapons are often so complex that there are only two or three competent suppliers for any given system, and once a major award is won, the company that prevails becomes a monopoly supplier of the system in question.
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Microsoft 's monopoly of the operating system market was hard earned and not illegal in itself.
On the department's behalf, he argued that Gates and his colleagues at Microsoft took advantage of their company's monopoly position in operating system software to disadvantage competitors, unfairly tying its Internet Explorer browser to Windows.
Bill Gates's software firm is not only facing a host of legal challenges to the way it does business, but is also confronted by a formidable alliance of competitors who are out to end the Windows monopoly of the desktop operating system.
His pattern of accomplishment following these choices--Microsoft's meteoric rise and an eventual settlement that didn't much restrict the company's monopoly on its browser and operating system--reflects Gates' understanding of how and when it's actually a good idea to break the rules.
But the challenge has always lain with the first half of Lincoln's phrase--that is, how to stoke that genius through a system that both rewards the inventor with a temporary business monopoly and protects the competition that lies at the heart of the free-market system.
Regulators must break the monopoly of the ageing and overloaded distribution system.
Once again, the company has fallen foul of regulators who accuse it of exploiting the monopoly of Windows, its desktop operating-system software, in order to dominate adjacent markets.
" On the other hand, if Microsoft is allowed to embed its Web browser into its operating system in a manner that maintains its monopoly, Reback warns, "where will it stop?
Customers are better off if just one system is built and maintained, as long as the company that runs the system is prohibited by regulators from using its monopoly power to drive up prices.
Jackson ruled Microsoft had engaged in illegal conduct by tying its Windows operating system--in which it had a clear monopoly--with its Explorer Web browser.
Speaking to the country as well as to his accusers, he rejected the idea that anybody should have a monopoly on religious interpretation, arguing that pluralism was acceptable under the Islamic system, and defending the right of dissident groups and theologians to present their views.
In his paper Reynolds also suggests alternative, unbiased solutions to resolving the collegiate football national championship, including a playoff system that does not favor the six major conferences that created the apparent monopoly that currently exists.
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That could pose a threat to the temporary monopoly Nintendo was poised to get on portable 3-D gaming when its handheld game system launches in March.
Palm wants to bring its WebOS operating system to other U.S. carriers, which means Sprint has a limited monopoly on what makes the Pre special.
The European Central Bank, which ought to see the big picture, is in favour of a clearing and settlement system, or network of systems, within the euro area, but is wary of letting a new monopoly develop.
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