Microsoft antitrust suit inappropriate for now

The Microsoft Corporation has lately come under fire for what some regard as an effort to create a monopoly.

The U.S. government is suing the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 to deal with Microsoft's rampant capitalism. The Act, once know as the "Swiss Cheese Act" because of its vague and ambiguous wording, provides a questionable forum for civil complaints against the corporation.

But many issues need to be addressed before the government proceeds. Can a commodity like computer software be the basis for a legitimate monopoly? And who's really complaining -- Microsoft's customers or competitors? Populism and monopolies are not the same thing.

Although its efforts at entering the internet browser market have admittedly been aggressive, Microsoft's competitors are not necessarily at a disadvantage -- Internet Explorer is provided free of charge.

Until these particular issues can be defined properly, it is inappropriate for the government to continue with this course of action. We are still a capitalist economy, and the government must step carefully when attempting to censor efficiency.