Bingaman pursued the investigation of Microsoft's software licensing practices even after a three-year probe by the FTC failed to result in antitrust charges. Given their current legal woes, Microsoft and its lawyers no doubt see things in a different light. The historic goal of the antitrust laws is to protect economic freedom and opportunity by promoting competition in the marketplace. Competition in a free market benefits American consumers through lower prices, better quality and greater choice. Competition provides businesses the opportunity to compete on price and quality, in an open market and on a level playing field, unhampered by anti-competitive restraints.
Competition also tests and hardens American companies at home, the better to succeed abroad.
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