Government Files Antitrust Suit
The Justice Department's long-awaited antitrust suit against Microsoft, filed on May 18, 1998, focuses on three specific business practices by the Redmond, Washington-based conglomerate, most notably its aggressive pushing of its Internet Explorer technology and its anti-competitive agreements with computer manufacturers and Internet service providers.

States File Antitrust Suit
The joint suit filed by twenty-one state attorneys general on May 18, 1998 covers many of the same issues as the complaint filed simultaneously by the Justice Department: edging out its competitors in the Internet browser market, limiting computer manufacturers' control of the initial boot-up screens of PCs, exclusionary agreements with Internet service providers.

Microsoft Settles Contempt of Court Claim
Microsoft reached an agreement with the Department of Justice January 22, 1998 to allow manufacturers of personal computers the option to remove the icon for the Internet Explorer browser from the Windows 95 operating system. The agreement comes in response to a motion filed by the Department of Justice declaring Microsoft in contempt of a temporary order issued December 11, 1997 by U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield. The order enjoined Microsoft from forcing computer makers to include Internet Explorer as a condition of licensing Windows 95.

Microsoft Antitrust Ruling
A federal judge temporarily precluded Microsoft from forcing computer manufacturers to package Microsoft's Internet Explorer with its Windows 95 operating system. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson acknowledged that "Microsoft has enjoyed for some time a virtual monopoly in the sale of PC operating system software." The Judge denied, however, the Justice Department's request to fine Microsoft $1 million a day for contempt of a August, 1995 court order. The following is the December 11, 1997 preliminary ruling. A final ruling is expected no sooner than the summer of 1998.

Netscape Calls for Justice Department Investigation
Netscape Communications claims Microsoft is violating its antitrust agreement with the government and wants the Justice Department to investigate. In this letter, Netscape says Microsoft is using its dominance in personal computer operating systems to influence computer makers, Internet service companies and others into giving Microsoft's Internet software prominence over competitors like Netscape. For instance, Netscape claims Microsoft is charging less money for its Windows 95 operating system to PC makers who agree to make other Web browser programs less accessible to computer users. Both companies recently released new versions of their products. Microsoft charged Netscape's letter was timed around the rollouts because its browser is catching up to Netscape's in technical features.

Microsoft: Appeals Court Victory
Microsoft triumphed in a five-year battle over federal antitrust charges when an appeals court ordered a federal trial court to approve the company's negotiated settlement with the Justice Department. The three-judge appellate panel also removed U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin from the case, finding he had overstepped his authority in ruling against the settlement in February. This is the June 16, 1995 ruling.

U.S. v. Microsoft: Sporkin Order
On March 14, 1995, U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin issued the following order defending his earlier rejection of an antitrust consent decree between the Justice Department and the Microsoft Corporation. In the order, the judge disputes a Justice Department brief to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals contending that he infringed on the government's prosecutorial discretion. He also argues in support of his broad interpretation of the Tunney Act and says Microsoft's plea that he be disqualified should have been made to him before it was made to the Court of Appeals.

U.S. v. Microsoft: The Appeal
The Department of Justice's brief in its appeal of Judge Stanley Sporkin's rejection of the government's plea agreement with Microsoft. The Justice Department argues the judge overstepped his authority under the Tunney Act, and that the agreement it negotiated served the public interest.

U.S. v. Microsoft: Sporkin Ruling
In this Feb. 14, 1995 ruling, U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin's ruling rejecting a proposed agreement between the Justice Department and the Microsoft Corp.