Comments on: Success = Monopoly = Antitrust? Why the MS antitrust case is just wrong

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:15:47 +0000

Thanks for your comment Asa. I agree with you. There are choices when Macs are taken as the example. But what about IPods? Or ITunes (as the music/media store)? Does Apple not enjoy a huge lead over the other players in the respective field?

But that said, what you mention about Microsoft’s dictat to HP, Dell etc is the sort of behavior I am against as well. That is what I say in the last paragraph. I think I should have elaborated more on that.

The way Intel bullied OEMs against AMD or as you mentioned what MS threated HP, Dell etc with is worthy of legal action.

By: Asa Dotzler

Asa Dotzler — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:32:47 +0000

I think you fundamentally misunderstand anti-trust law.

Apple is free to use its Desktop Operating System and its iPhone Operating System to advance its browser, Safari, because Apple does not have an overwhelming share of the Desktop Operating System or mobile device Operating System marketplace.

If you don’t like Apple’s practices, there are lots of other _viable_ choices for desktop operating systems or cellular telephones.

Microsoft, on the other hand, does have an overwhelming share of the PC Operating System market and has been convicted of using that monopoly share to stifle competition in the US and in Europe.

In the US, Microsoft told PC OEMs like Dell, HP, and Sony, that if they tried to include other browsers on their machines, that Microsoft would charge them exorbitant licensing fees for Windows or would deny them Windows licenses all-together.

That kind of behavior, where a company uses its monopoly leverage to force an unrelated product into the market place, is illegal.

Imagine if the company that sells you electricity was the only electricity company in your state or country. Now imagine that they told you that if you didn’t also buy their telephone and internet service that they would charge you 1,000 times more for your electricity, or cut you off completely. Would you be OK with that?

When a company has a monopoly, they’re in a position to easily abuse their customers. Anti-trust laws are designed to prevent that kind of abuse. Microsoft has been convicted in the US and Europe of exactly that kind of abuse.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:42:21 +0000

Truly spoken Pramod. I’m against IP laws as well. It is one of the reasons I’ve consistently refused to participate in the IP declaration/patent filing in my current employment. I dislike software patent like nothing else.

By: Pramod Biligiri

Pramod Biligiri — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:25:37 +0000

I completely agree that MS should be allowed to bundle whatever they want. I hate anti-trust laws – I think EU forced MS and Intel to pay up big time recently.
The Google-Yahoo ad deal was pulled off and Google continues to remain under silly scrutiny.

Parallel to getting rid of anti-trust laws, I also support getting rid of all IP laws! People should be free to copy and re-sell software.

By: Pramod Biligiri

Pramod Biligiri — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:19:46 +0000

Before I read the rest of the post:I dislike IE (at least 6 and 7) primarily because of the headaches they have given me and the PITA they have been to the whole design and web-development industry.

Amen, brother!