Microsoft turning into the NSA?

Microsoft is not really turning into the NSA but they are recently used invasive information gathering techniques in an investigation into "leaked" software that was passed from a former microsoft employee to a blogger in France.  Microsoft sifted through the customers emails and instant messages of a Microsoft operated hotmail accounts.  The actions were supposedly legal yet raise questions about the nature of a companies decision to gather and view private information of a customer without court order.  Microsoft's actions were legal under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act which is a federal law allowing companies to take such action if it is to protect the rights of their property.  Though the dispute is fairly private in nature given it being between a company, ex-employee and the ex-employee's friend.  Regarding fundamental rights, I believe this is still an area of the law that is under debate and contains a variance of view points.  Also, given the nature of technology and the internet in general our privacy over the web is constantly in question and disputes involving such conditions usually rest on the variables of the dispute.  The interests of businesses and the rights they have to protect their property are not really endangered here yet rather being questioned.