Government Expands Microsoft Allegations

The Justice Department has made fresh allegations that Microsoft Corp. has engaged in a pattern of anti-competitive behavior in its business relations with other companies, broadening the government’s claims of misconduct by the software giant.

The allegations came in a legal brief filed Monday night by the Justice Department and attorneys general from 20 states that spelled out the government’s motives for pursuing the company in a pending antitrust trial on charges that Microsoft plotted to dominate the market for Internet browsers.

The 89-page brief says consumers will face extraordinary costs if Microsoft is allowed to control the market for software used to browse the Internet. The company “puts itself in a position to wield tremendous influence in directing computer users to particular products, services, and sites on the Web,” the brief declares.