APPENDIX A
COMPARISON OF COURT OF APPEALS' FINDINGS ON LIABILITY TO
PROVISIONS OF THE REVISED PROPOSED FINAL JUDGMENT
I. LIABILITY FINDINGS AFFIRMED BY THE COURT OF APPEALS
Agreements with Computer Manufacturers ("OEMs")
- Microsoft prohibited OEMs from removing any desktop icons, folders, or "Start" menu
entries, thereby "thwart[ing] the distribution of a rival browser by preventing OEMs from
removing visible means of user access to IE." United States v. Microsoft Corp., 253 F.3d
34, 61, 64 (D.C. Cir. 2001).
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.H.1 requires Microsoft to "[a]llow end users (via a mechanism readily
accessible from the desktop or Start menu such as an Add/Remove icon) and
OEMs (via standard preinstallation kits) to enable or remove access to each
Microsoft Middleware Product . . . . The mechanism shall offer the end user a
separate and unbiased choice with respect to enabling or removing access . . . and
altering default invocations . . . with regard to each such Microsoft Middleware
Product . . . ."
- Microsoft prohibited OEMs from "modifying the initial boot sequence . . ., thus
prevent[ing] OEMs from using that process to promote the services of IAPs . . . ." 253
F.3d at 61-62, 64.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.C.3 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[l]aunching
automatically, at the conclusion of the initial boot sequence or subsequent boot
sequences, or upon connections to or disconnections from the Internet, any Non-Microsoft Middleware . . . ."
- Section III.C.4 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[o]ffering users
the option of launching other Operating Systems . . . or a non-Microsoft boot-loader or similar program . . . ."
- Section III.C.5 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[p]resenting in
the initial boot sequence its own IAP offer . . . ."
- Microsoft prohibited OEMs from "adding icons or folders different in size or shape from
those supplied by Microsoft," thereby preventing OEMs from "promot[ing] rival
browsers, which keeps developers focused upon the APIs in Windows." 253 F.3d at 62,
64.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.C.1 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[i]nstalling, and
displaying icons, shortcuts, or menu entries for, any Non-Microsoft Middleware
. . . on the desktop or Start menu, or anywhere else in a Windows Operating
System Product where a list of icons, shortcuts, or menu entries for applications
are generally displayed . . . ."
- Section III.C.2 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[d]istributing or
promoting Non-Microsoft Middleware by installing and displaying on the desktop
shortcuts of any size or shape . . . ."
- Section III.H.3 requires Microsoft to "[e]nsure that a Windows Operating System
Product does not (a) automatically alter an OEM's configuration of icons,
shortcuts or menu entries . . . pursuant to Section III.C of this Final Judgment
without first seeking confirmation from the user and (b) seek such confirmation . .
. until 14 days after the initial boot up of a new Personal Computer. . . ."
- Microsoft prohibited OEMs from "using the 'Active Desktop' feature to promote third-party brands," thereby preventing OEMs from "promot[ing] rival browsers, which keeps
developers focused upon the APIs in Windows." 253 F.3d at 62, 64.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.C.1 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[i]nstalling, and
displaying icons, shortcuts, or menu entries for, any Non-Microsoft Middleware
. . . on the desktop or Start menu, or anywhere else in a Windows Operating
System Product where a list of icons, shortcuts, or menu entries for applications
are generally displayed . . . ."
- Section III.C.2 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[d]istributing or
promoting Non-Microsoft Middleware by installing and displaying on the desktop
shortcuts of any size or shape . . . ."
Binding of Internet Explorer to Windows
- Microsoft excluded IE from the "Add/Remove Programs" utility, thereby "reduc[ing] the
usage share of rival browsers not by making Microsoft's own browser more attractive to
consumers but, rather, by discouraging OEMs from distributing rival products." 253 F.3d
at 65, 67.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.H.1 requires Microsoft to "[a]llow end users (via a mechanism readily
accessible from the desktop or Start menu such as an Add/Remove icon) and
OEMs (via standard preinstallation kits) to enable or remove access to each
Microsoft Middleware Product . . . . The mechanism shall offer the end user a
separate and unbiased choice with respect to enabling or removing access . . . and
altering default invocations . . . with regard to each such Microsoft Middleware
Product . . . ."
- Microsoft "'plac[ed] code specific to Web browsing in the same files as code that
provided operating system functions'" (253 F.3d at 65 (quoting Findings of Fact ¶ 161)),
thus "deter[ring] OEMs from pre-installing rival browsers, thereby reducing the rivals'
usage share and, hence, developers' interest in rivals' APIs as an alternative to the API set
exposed by Microsoft's operating system." 253 F.3d at 66.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.C.1 prohibits Microsoft from restricting OEMs from "[i]nstalling, and
displaying icons, shortcuts, or menu entries for, any Non-Microsoft Middleware
. . . on the desktop or Start menu, or anywhere else in a Windows Operating
System Product where a list of icons, shortcuts, or menu entries for applications
are generally displayed . . . ."
- Section III.H.1 requires Microsoft to "[a]llow end users (via a mechanism readily
accessible from the desktop or Start menu such as an Add/Remove icon) and
OEMs (via standard preinstallation kits) to enable or remove access to each
Microsoft Middleware Product . . . . The mechanism shall offer the end user a
separate and unbiased choice with respect to enabling or removing access . . . and
altering default invocations . . . with regard to each such Microsoft Middleware
Product . . . ."
Agreements with Internet Access Providers ("IAPs")
- Microsoft "agreed to provide easy access to IAPs' services from the Windows desktop in
return for the IAPs' agreement to promote IE exclusively and to keep shipments of
internet access software using Navigator under a specific percentage, typically 25%." 253
F.3d at 68. Such agreements ensure "that the 'majority' of all IAP subscribers are offered
IE either as the default browser or as the only browser . . . ." Id. at 71.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.G.1 prohibits Microsoft from entering into any agreement with "any
IAP, ICP, ISV, IHV, or OEM that grants Consideration on the condition that such
entity distributes, promotes, uses, or supports, exclusively or in a fixed percentage,
any Microsoft Platform Software . . . ."
- Section III.G.2 prohibits Microsoft from entering into any agreement with "any
IAP or ICP that grants placement on the desktop or elsewhere in any Windows
Operating System Product to that IAP or ICP on the condition that the IAP or ICP
refrain from distributing, promoting or using any software that competes with
Microsoft Middleware."
Agreements with Internet Content Providers ("ICPs"), Independent Software Vendors
("ISVs") and Apple
- In dozens of "First Wave" agreements, Microsoft "'promised to give preferential support,
in the form of early Windows 98 and Windows NT betas, other technical information, and
the right to use certain Microsoft seals of approval, to important ISVs that agree to certain
conditions. One of these conditions is that the ISVs use Internet Explorer as the default
browsing software for any software they develop with a hypertext-based user interface.'"
253 F.3d at 71-72 (quoting Findings of Fact ¶ 339). In so doing, Microsoft kept "rival
browsers from gaining widespread distribution (and potentially attracting the attention of
developers away from the APIs in Windows) . . . ." Id. at 72.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.F.2 prohibits Microsoft from "condition[ing] the grant of any
Consideration on an ISV's refraining from developing, using, distributing, or
promoting any software that competes with Microsoft Platform Software or any
software that runs on any software that competes with Microsoft Platform
Software . . . ."
- Section III.G.1 prohibits Microsoft from entering into any agreement with "any
IAP, ICP, ISV, IHV, or OEM that grants Consideration on the condition that such
entity distributes, promotes, uses, or supports, exclusively or in a fixed percentage,
any Microsoft Platform Software . . . ."
- Microsoft agreed to continue development of Mac Office, a suite of business productivity
applications needed by Apple, only when Apple agreed to make Internet Explorer the
default browser on Apple's operating system and to refrain from positioning icons for
non-Microsoft browsing software on the desktop of new Apple Macintosh computers or
Mac OS upgrades. 253 F.3d at 73. "Microsoft's exclusive contract with Apple has a
substantial effect in restricting distribution of rival browsers . . ." Id. at 73-74.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.F.1 prohibits Microsoft from retaliating against any ISV or IHV
because of that ISV's or IHV's "developing, using, distributing. promoting or
supporting any software that competes with Microsoft Platform Software or any
software that runs on any software that competes with Microsoft Platform
Software."
- Section III.F.2 prohibits Microsoft from "condition[ing] the grant of any
Consideration on an ISV's refraining from developing, using, distributing, or
promoting any software that competes with Microsoft Platform Software or any
software that runs on any software that competes with Microsoft Platform
Software . . . ."
- Section III.G.1 prohibits Microsoft from entering into any agreement with "any
IAP, ICP, ISV, IHV, or OEM that grants Consideration on the condition that such
entity distributes, promotes, uses, or supports, exclusively or in a fixed percentage,
any Microsoft Platform Software . . . ."
Efforts to Exclude Sun's Java
- In dozens of "First Wave" agreements with ISVs, Microsoft "conditioned receipt of
Windows technical information upon the ISVs' agreement to promote Microsoft's JVM
[Java Virtual Machine] exclusively . . . ." 253 F.3d at 75. Such agreements "foreclosed a
substantial portion of the field for JVM distribution and . . ., in so doing, they protected
Microsoft's monopoly from a middleware threat . . . ." Id. at 76.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.F.2 prohibits Microsoft from "condition[ing] the grant of any
Consideration on an ISV's refraining from developing, using, distributing, or
promoting any software that competes with Microsoft Platform Software or any
software that runs on any software that competes with Microsoft Platform
Software . . . ."
- Section III.G.1 prohibits Microsoft from entering into any agreement with "any
IAP, ICP, ISV, IHV, or OEM that grants Consideration on the condition that such
entity distributes, promotes, uses, or supports, exclusively or in a fixed percentage,
any Microsoft Platform Software . . . ."
- Microsoft "deceived Java developers regarding the Windows-specific nature" of
Microsoft's Java software development tools. Thus, "developers who relied upon
Microsoft's public commitment to cooperate with Sun and who used Microsoft's tools to
develop what Microsoft led them to believe were cross-platform applications ended up
producing applications that would run only on the Windows operating system." 253 F.3d
at 76.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.D requires Microsoft to disclose to all ISVs "the APIs and related
Documentation that are used by Microsoft Middleware to interoperate with a
Windows Operating System Product."
- Microsoft threatened Intel, which was developing a high-performance cross-platform
Windows-compatible JVM, that if Intel "did not stop aiding Sun on the multimedia front,
then Microsoft would refuse to distribute Intel technologies bundled with Windows." 253
F.3d at 77.
RPFJ Provisions:
- Section III.F.1 prohibits Microsoft from retaliating against any ISV because of
that ISV's "developing, using, distributing. promoting or supporting any software
that competes with Microsoft Platform Software or any software that runs on any
software that competes with Microsoft Platform Software."
- Section III.F.2 prohibits Microsoft from "condition[ing] the grant of any
Consideration on an ISV's refraining from developing, using, distributing, or
promoting any software that competes with Microsoft Platform Software or any
software that runs on any software that competes with Microsoft Platform
Software . . . ."
II. LIABILITY FINDINGS REJECTED BY THE COURT OF APPEALS
- Microsoft prohibited OEMs from "causing any user interface other than the Windows
desktop to launch automatically." 253 F.3d at 62. The court of appeals found that this
restriction had an anticompetitive effect (id.), but does not violate Section 2 because "a
shell that automatically prevents the Windows desktop from ever being seen by the user is
a drastic alteration of Microsoft's copyrighted work, and outweighs the marginal
anticompetitive effect of prohibiting the OEMs from substituting a different interface
automatically upon completion of the initial boot process." Id. at 63.
- Microsoft designed Windows 98 to "override the user's choice of a default browser in
certain circumstances." 253 F.3d at 67. The court of appeals found that plaintiffs had
failed to rebut Microsoft's proffered technical justification that such overriding was
necessary in a "few" circumstances, e.g., invoking the Windows 98 Help system, Windows
Update feature, or accessing the Internet through "My Computer" or "Windows
Explorer." Id.
- Microsoft offered Internet Explorer free of charge to IAPs and ISVs. The court of
appeals held that "the antitrust laws do not condemn even a monopolist for offering its
product at an attractive price, and we therefore have no warrant to condemn Microsoft for
offering . . . IE . . . free of charge or even at a negative price." 253 F.3d at 68 (giving IE
to IAPs); see also id. at 75 (giving IE to ISVs).
- Microsoft offered "IAPs a bounty for each customer the IAP signs up for service using the
IE browser." 253 F.3d at 67. The court of appeals held that "the antitrust laws do not
condemn even a monopolist for offering its product at an attractive price, and we
therefore have no warrant to condemn Microsoft for offering . . . IE . . . free of charge or
even at a negative price." Id. at 68.
- Microsoft developed the IE Access Kit (IEAK), a "software package that allows an IAP
to 'create a distinctive identity for its service in as little as a few hours by customizing the
[IE] title bar, icon, start and search pages,'" and offered the IEAK to IAPs for free. 253
F.3d at 68 (quoting Findings of Fact ¶ 249). The court of appeals held that "the antitrust
laws do not condemn even a monopolist for offering its product at an attractive price, and
we therefore have no warrant to condemn Microsoft for offering . . . the IEAK . . . free of
charge or even at a negative price." Id.
- Microsoft entered into exclusive dealings with ICPs, which develop websites, in exchange
for the ICPs' agreement to distribute, promote, and rely on IE rather than Netscape's
Navigator browser. 253 F.3d at 71. The court of appeals found that "plaintiffs failed to
demonstrate that Microsoft's deals with the ICPs have a substantial effect upon
competition . . . ." Id.
- Microsoft developed a JVM that "allows Java applications to run faster on Windows than
does Sun's JVM, . . . but a Java application designed to work with Microsoft's JVM does
not work with Sun's JVM and vice versa." 253 F.3d at 74. The court of appeals held that
"a monopolist does not violate the antitrust laws simply by developing a product that is
incompatible with those of its rivals." Id. at 75.
- The court of appeals reversed the district court's finding that Microsoft was liable based
on its "general 'course of conduct'" apart from specific acts that violated Section 2. 253
F.3d at 78.
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