Microsoft developer tools prep for next Xbox

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Unfortunately my last post muddled the waters

ShadeTree writes: "There is no comparison to the EU WMP
ruling where bundling the player with the OS caused
the unfair playing field."

Carl writes :"But this new tool isn't being bundled
with Windows. It is a Windows-based tool to help
developers develop games for the XBox. So how does the
bundling ruling apply?"

Unfortunately my other post muddled the waters. The legal
theory used by the EC in their antitrust case was :

"leveraging of Microsoft?s monopoly position in the desktop
operating system market into the market for low-end
server software. "
Morrison & Foerster LLP

Bundling was found to be one example of this illegal
behaviour (e.g. WMP affect competition in media servers),
but so was restricting access to workgroup APIs to
developers of competing software (e.g. windows affect
competition in media servers).

The gaming API, I believe, is another example of exactly the
same behaviour.

Carl writes : "Are you saying it's now illegal for Microsoft to
make it easier for developers to develop for the XBox? That
it's somehow "unfair" for Microsoft to provide better tools
for developers?"

No, but it is unfair to competitors to allow the MS
monopoly position on the desktop to affect other markets.

Why do you believe improvements to XBox dev kits should
be any way related to Win32 development? They're not
related, but MS knows that they can leverage their desktop
monopoly to benefit their gaming ambitions.

Posted by: Richard Flude   Posted on: 03/09/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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