In 2002, a four-year-long lawsuit against Microsoft by the Department of Justice was settled. The Department of Justice alleged that Microsoft had illegally maintained a monopoly in the operating systems market and had used that monopoly to attempt to monopolize the Internet browser market by tying purchases of Internet Explorer to purchases of the Windows operating system. The company was found by the court to have illegally maintained its virtual monopoly over computer operating systems and to have attempted to monopolize the browser market. Microsoft agreed to no longer engage in its restrictive business practices.

Which economic function of government was being performed in this example? Are there any benefits to the economy from the settlement of this case?