RE: Microsoft anti-trust perceptions (was: Is IBM listening?)

["jt" <jt@xxxxxx>]

Sorry, Al...

I tend to agree with Chris.  I understand that, theoretically, Microshaft
could be forced into changing their "evil ways".

But I agree with Chris that, in actual practice (and primarily judging by
past experience), that ain't likely...

Look at the proposed remedies:  One being that Microsly would "donate"
equipment and software to schools, and in the process remove Apple's niche
market...  This is seriously proposed as a "remedy".

I've already stated my views that the only true remedy is a structural
remedy:  split MicroSoft into two competing entities.  Both entities start
from the same code base, and both produce OS *and* apps.

But a lot of folks think of a structural remedy as WAY over-the-top.  (Would
be, except for one minor detail:  Microscrew was  CONVICTED in a court of
law, of ILLEGALLY WIPING OUT THEIR COMPETITORS.  Minor detail, to some.)

jt

| -----Original Message-----
| From: midrange-nontech-admin@midrange.com
| [mailto:midrange-nontech-admin@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Chris Rehm
| Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 3:59 PM
| To: midrange-nontech@midrange.com
| Subject: Re: Microsoft anti-trust perceptions (was: Is IBM listening?)
|
|
| MacWheel99@aol.com wrote:
|
| >You repeated the oft stated view that because DoJ gave in to
| Microsoft, that
| >it is all over, while other articles, like my recent passing on of major
| >headlines in this week's eWeek, paint a somewhat different view.
| >
| >There is the Tunny process where any setttlement needs public
| comment period
| >before it is finalized & as part of that process there were Congressional
| >hearings in which Congress critters called for much more severe sanctions
| >against Microsoft than anything DoJ ever suggested.
| >
| This process didn't seem all that effective during the first Microsoft
| anti-trust case.
|
| >There were a bunch of US states in the anti-trust action against
| Microsoft.
| >It was not just Federal DoJ.
| >Nine of those US states did not agree to the DoJ settlement & they are
| >continuing their battle.  So long as the parties in power remain
| so, those
| >states stand firm at least until their next elections.
| >
| The problem is that this process costs money. Right now, Microsoft has
| money and the states are all going broke.I don't think the number of
| dissenting states would have dwindled to nine if the economy hadn't been
| shaky.
|
| >The Europeans also have legal action pending against Microsoft &
| even though
| >DoJ caved in, the US court process did in fact declare Microsoft to be an
| >illegal monopoly conducting illegal practices against its
| competition & this
| >declaration has strengthened the European case against Microsoft.
| >
| It is doubtful that the EU will be any more effective against Microsoft
| than the DOJ was. I've watched that off and on, but I don't see any
| significant outcome of that case affecting Microsoft's behavior.
|
| >There is also a private class action suit against Microsoft & I have seen
| >practically no coverage of this in the media.
| >
| Because the private suits really rely on the findings of the DOJ
| criminal suit for a precedent to use as evidence of harm. But the issue
| of harm done to Netscape through monopoly practice was unhooked by the
| appellate court and the DOJ has decided not to reprove it in lower
| court. So when John Ashcroft bent over for Microsoft, he really did it
| in behalf of a lot of people.
|
| >MacWheel99@aol.com (Alister Wm Macintyre) (Al Mac)
| >
|
| --
| Chris Rehm
| javadisciple@earthlink.net
|
| Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one
| that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7
|
|
|
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