Microsoft

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Microsoft had stated that Windows 10 would be the last Windows version, but now they are forcing users into Windows 11 by discontinuing free official support for Windows 10 starting on October 14, 2025, which is widely regarded as a significantly inferior operating system. Windows 11 also adds new requirements for the installation, including a Microsoft account, TPM (trusted platform module), and more. PCs made before a couple of years ago (when it was promised that Windows 10 would be the last version) do not have this hardware. It is notable that most of these restrictions can be bypassed. New Windows 11 builds are now shipping with Microsoft Copilot which is a pre-installed opt-out AI program.

Controversies

Court cases up to the early 2000s

In the major antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice, U.S. v. Microsoft Corp., 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001), Microsoft argued that there was no barrier to entry in the market they were in. A central issue at that time was whether Microsoft could bundle the web browser Internet Explorer with the Microsoft Windows operating system. The following was said in the court case: "The District Court condemned a number of provisions in Microsoft's agreements licensing Windows to OEMs, because it found that Microsoft's imposition of those provisions (like many of Microsoft's other actions at issue in this case) serves to reduce usage share of Netscape's browser and, hence, protect Microsoft's operating system monopoly."

The court specifically identified three main license restrictions for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that were considered problematic:

1. the prohibition upon the removal of desktop icons, folders, and Start menu entries
2. the prohibition for modifying the initial boot sequence
3. the prohibition of otherwise altering the appearance of the Windows desktop

The case was eventually settled, and did not result in a company breakup.

Section III.H of the Consent Decree required Microsoft to "allow end users and OEMs to enable or remove access to all middleware products­, including web browsers, e-mail clients, and media players ­through a readily accessible, centralized mechanism". End users and OEMs should be able "to specify a non-Microsoft middleware product as the default middleware product to be launched in place of the corresponding Microsoft middleware product".

In the case United States v. Microsoft Corp., 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000), Microsoft's Conduct taken as a whole is described as "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anticompetitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers".

Windows 11

TPM 2.0 Chip Requirements

While being something that can be reasonably circumvented, Microsoft's decision to attempt to lock-down Windows 11 to computers with Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chips (TPMs) has forced the hands of both consumers and companies alike to dispose of hardware that would otherwise be perfectly acceptable to use. This has also included Windows 10 users to be frequently reminded by Microsoft to upgrade their hardware to Windows 11, which has caused many users frequent agitation.

Recall

During 2024, Microsoft unveiled Recall, marketed as a way to search through what you have done on your computer. This, of course, sparked massive controversy, especially among security experts that worried about how secure the screenshots the tool takes are, since it could easily document private information like Social Security Numbers, bank account information, and passwords, among other things such as browsing behavior on more mature platforms. This feature was delayed after massive backlash, however, so long as users can jailbreak AI assistants, and bypass screenshot encryption, this feature remains not ideal for neither consumers nor businesses handling sensitive information.

Anti-consumer Practices

De-listing/destruction of access to games

In early September of 2016, Microsoft shut down access to purchasing Xbox 360 Indie Games , and in late July of 2024, Microsoft shut down their storefront for Xbox 360 games. These shutdowns have caused hundreds of games to become impossible to obtain new copies of and for some, additionally play.