In recent months, several companies with online operations have begun to face scrutiny by antitrust officials for possible anti-competitive conduct.

Moreover, healthcare bodies were urged to make use of existing complaint procedures under the TPA, especially where evidence of anti-competitive conduct existed.

A huge issue in the E.U. is whether to follow the U.S. approach of private damages actions to prevent anti-competitive conduct.

But a spokeswoman for the Justice Department said it was looking into "allegations of anti-competitive conduct affecting the electric car industry."

Much will now depend on whether the Justice Department and attorneys general can prove their charges of illegal anti-competitive conduct.

"The settlement reached today stops this anti-competitive conduct."

Microsoft must now comply fully with its legal obligations to desist from engaging in anti-competitive conduct.

Sackville found that no such anti-competitive conduct existed.

It is about responding to anti-competitive conduct, and that response must be effective and firm.

"None of this rhetoric even approaches proof of anti-competitive conduct," he said.