AutoCAD

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

One of the proposed remedies for the MS monopoly that we have 
supported are interoperability remedies, such as requiring
MS to publish data on data file format and to not deliberately
undermine incompatiablity by rival programs.  This missive
from the ABA list has an interesting note regarding an
FTC investigation of AutoCAD on a similar matter. Jamie


--------------------------
       Re: Washington Post - FTC Has Tough Case To Prove Against Intel
   Date: 
       Sat, 6 Mar 1999 09:48:26 -0500
  From: 
       "Sharp, Larry D." <ldsharp@mwbb.com>
    To: 
       AT-MEMBERS@ABANET.ORG


My understanding from press reports is that an AutoDesk competitor
complained to the FTC that AutoDesk has inserted a proprietary string of
code into its file formats in a maintenance release. The new string made
files created by AutoCAD unreadable in competitive programs (which, as I
understand it, were AutoCAD knock-offs created by reverse engineering).
AutoCAD claims, as I understand it, that it was simply trying to protect
its intellectual property. The competitor is claiming that AutoCAD is
attempting to maintain a monopoly, and wants the file format to be open.

The resolution of this issue could tell us a great deal about how the
agencies are going to deal with software in the area where the law of
intellectual property intersects with antitrust law.




-- 
James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technology
P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
http://www.cptech.org    love@cptech.org
Voice 202.387.8030, Fax 202.234.5176