Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee,
On EU Antitrust Sanctions Against Microsoft
Wednesday, March 24, 2004

“Our economy is increasingly global in scope, and it is no longer only the largest firms that can seek customers and suppliers around the world.  Advances in computer and communications technologies have made markets of every kind, and every size, available to the small niche manufacturer as well as to the firm with an established national presence.  But these advances bring new challenges, and antitrust regulators – state, national, and international – all have roles to play in ensuring that competition is maintained and nurtured. 

“With so much change, and so much need for fair and competitive markets, it is time for the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider how those various enforcement authorities are working together, and whether there might be better ways for them to cooperate in order to ensure that consumer interests are protected everywhere. 

“The European Commission’s decision in the Microsoft case will not be made public for a week or more, and I will give it close examination when it is released.  The early indications are that there may be good reason for the Senate Judiciary Committee to ponder the difficult questions raised by what seems to be the emergence of a new world order of antitrust enforcement.”

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