If Microsoft illegally tied the sale of Internet browser software to the sale of its PC operating system, the company would be in violation of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tying the sale of Internet browser software to the sale of its PC operating system would be considered an illegal tie-in under both Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits anticompetitive agreements between companies, and Section 3 of the Clayton Act, which prohibits tying arrangements that substantially lessen competition. The Robinson-Patman Act pertains to price discrimination, and the Celler-Kefauver Act pertains to mergers and acquisitions. Section 2 of the Clayton Act pertains to the prohibition of monopolization and attempts to monopolize, which could also be applicable in this scenario, but tying arrangements are specifically addressed in Section 3 of the same act. Therefore, the best answer is C. Tying the sale of Internet browser software to the sale of its PC operating system would violate both Section 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and Section 3 of the Clayton Act, which prohibit anticompetitive behavior such as tying arrangements between products. The Robinson-Patman Act and the Celler-Kefauver Act relate to different antitrust issues and are not relevant in this case.

If Microsoft Illegally Tied the Sale of Internet Browser Software