Trade groups pick sides in EU-Microsoft battle

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you are confusing crime and punishment

I was pointing out the nature of the ?predatory marketing practice? that got Microsoft in trouble. You are arguing about the nature of the punishment the court is imposing on Microsoft. The EU court has determined that the punishment should be, Microsoft reveals details about their OS so competing companies have a more equal opportunity to write software that integrates well with a Microsoft based computer system. The American court choose different ?punishments? when they found Microsoft guilty of the same crime. The primary difference between the two is that the EU court has significantly less patience with Microsoft?s foot dragging approach to compliance with the court ordered punishment.

As for stealing, I didn?t say Microsoft stole anyone?s code I said Microsoft copied other companies ideas and wrote their own programs. Since you can?t copyright an idea, only a process, other companies can?t prevent Microsoft from copying their ideas. However the courts have said on numerous occasions that when Microsoft copies an idea and then ?bundles? it to help sell their OS that is a predatory practice. Microsoft is eliminating the competition not by producing a better product but by giving away competing companies products as ?free extras? when you buy their higher priced core product. Since you have to have the core product (i.e. the OS) to use any of their competitors products (i.e. Windows based software) to give away copies of competing software to boost sales of their OS has been ruled illegal.

Bjorn A Freeman

Posted by: bjornafreeman@...   Posted on: 07/13/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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