Cusumano argues, in this column, that Microsoft’s current approach to product development, marketing, and competition is such that it will someday be spending more money on legal battles than on product development and research. (The title of the article was not intended to be taken literally.) Although the company’s announced strategy is to avoid litigation, its actions have made litigation attractive to governments and competitors. The author fears that “Microsoft will become a regulated monopoly that fights its regulation every step of the way,” a fight that will be detrimental to both Microsoft and consumers.

The article includes brief discussions of Microsoft’s research and development investments and results, recent antitrust litigation in the European Union, and recent large settlements paid by Microsoft.