These range from prohibiting Microsoft from entering into exclusionary contracts to splitting up the company.

These restrictions, including those prohibiting contractual tying, prohibit Microsoft from continuing in the future certain of the illegal conduct it undertook in the past.

The second part, which prohibits Microsoft from making exclusive deals with computer makers, is important because Netscape is not bound by such restrictions.

The settlement does seek to prohibit Microsoft from bullying business partners and rivals, and forces it to share some of its tightly held technical information.

The consent degree prohibits Microsoft from tying the purchase of one product to another, but it does allow the company to develop "integrated" products.

To that same end, the Government also asks the court to prohibit Microsoft from writing exclusionary contracts that effectively discourage competition.

In parentheses, the section adds: 'provided, however, that this provision in and of itself shall not be construed to prohibit Microsoft from developing integrated products.'

Under this remedy, the court would impose rules that prohibit Microsoft from entering into illegally exclusive contracts to box out its competitors.

The judge could have turned to a less drastic remedy, imposing rules that would prohibit Microsoft from engaging in illegal practices.

It prohibited Microsoft from striking certain deals with personal computer makers for licensing the company's Windows operating system software that were determined to be anticompetitive.