Microsoft Corp. on Friday filed its formal response to RealNetworks Inc."s anti-trust lawsuit against it, denying allegations that it is impeding competition in the digital media market. In the "Answers and Defenses" filing in federal court in San Jose, Calif., Microsoft defended its business practices, asserting that competition is vigorous between Microsoft and RealNetworks.
RealNetworks alleges in the lawsuit it filed in December that Microsoft illegally used its monopoly power to restrict competition and consumer choice in the digital-media space by forcing its Windows Media player on Windows users. Part of Real Networks" case is based on business conduct similar to what U.S. courts have declared illegal in other Microsoft antitrust cases, such as failure to disclose interface information and placing restrictions on PC manufacturers.