Z:gnu-www-ja-gpl-american-way--85815b-Microsoft uses an anticompetit/en

Microsoft uses an anticompetitive strategy called &ldquo;embrace and extend&rdquo;. This means they start with the technology others are using, add a minor wrinkle which is secret so that nobody else can imitate it, then use that secret wrinkle so that only Microsoft software can communicate with other Microsoft software. In some cases, this makes it hard for you to use a non-Microsoft program when others you work with use a Microsoft program. In other cases, this makes it hard for you to use a non-Microsoft program for job A if you use a Microsoft program for job B. Either way, &ldquo;embrace and extend&rdquo; magnifies the effect of Microsoft's market power.