In the long term, however, some of the most significant implications of the Microsoft case are likely to be outside U.S. borders.
Antitrust policy has more than a century of honorable history in the United States.
Initially, many were inclined to accept much of the Microsoft position. During the trial, however, the Department of Justice established a compelling case that the company had engaged in anti-competitive practices in violation of U.S. antitrust laws. Many of Microsoft's arguments began to seem rhetorical and without real substance. The remedy decision is an important juncture in the Microsoft case, but the dispute is likely to rage on for sometime. The company has a campaign underway apparently aimed at influencing public opinion on the case.