Going Soft on Microsoft? The EU's Antitrust Case and Remedy

In March 2004, following a five-year investigation, the European Commission found Microsoft liable for illegally tying the Windows Media Player to the Windows operating system. This Column evaluates the antitrust issues and the proposed remedy. What is remarkable is that the remedy eliminates false positives. Just as King Solomon's proposal to divide the baby only caused pain to the true mother, the Commission's remedy will only cause pain to a monopolist who abused its position.