Microsoft vs. FTC First Pre-Trial Hearing to Take Place on January 3rd

The antitrust battle between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission is set to reach a key milestone on January 3rd, 2020. The pre-trial hearing will be held before Judge Amit Mehta, who took over the case on December 19th. At this point, the details of the hearing are still being determined.

It is the first hearing in the FTC’s case against Microsoft. The FTC accused the tech giant of illegally tying its browser to shortcuts, giving them an unfair competitive advantage. Microsoft denies this and contest to the FTC’s complaint.

The Microsoft vs. FTC case has been in the works for some time, with the FTC first filing suit against Microsoft back in June 2019. The FTC accused Microsoft of errors in the way it bundles Edge and Internet Explorer with Windows 10, Microsoft’s widely used operating system. The FTC says that Microsoft pushing customers to use Edge and Internet Explorer gave the browser an unfair advantage over competitors, such as Firefox and Chrome.

The pre-trial hearing is seen as a big step in the case and could be a key factor in determining if the case will continue forward or be thrown out. In the hearing, Judge Mehta will decide if the case is warranted and should go to a full trial. If Judge Mehta decides that the case is not warranted, the case could be dropped and the dispute between the two sides concluded.

The hearing is also important as it sets up the rules that the two sides must follow leading up to the event. Judge Mehta will decide the timeline and schedule for the filing of briefs, motions and other documents that are related to the case. This will be the first step in getting to the full trial.

It’s still too early to tell how the case will turn out, but the Microsoft vs. FTC case could have far-reaching consequences for tech giants, such as Microsoft, and the future of antitrust regulation. The case also has major implications for consumers, as it could affect how tech companies are allowed to bundle services in the future. This case has the potential to shape the future of technology.

The pre-trial hearing on January 3rd is just the beginning of a long dispute, but it could be the key to resolving the case. The hearing will be important for both the tech giant and the FTC, as it will help determine the future of the case and any potential resolutions.