An eye toward required remedies for Microsoft

["Lewis A. Mettler" <lmettler@lamlaw.com>]

Networking and internet technologies need to be unbundled from operating
systems so they too can provide the solutions for cross or multiple
platforms.

Java is not the only issue.  Sure, Java has matured.  But, more
importantly it has focus the attention upon the idea that single
platform solutions are just plain stupid.  They are horrible examples of
engineering and harm consumers directly.

In the DOJ case, IE may very well be divested from Microsoft.  And, that
should absolutely be the minimum remedy.  But, networking technology
should also be separated from Windows and all networking technology
companies should have equal opportunity to market networking capability
to all platforms including Windows without being forced to sell only to
those customers who have already been required to buy the Microsoft
brand.

Separating cross-platform technologies from operating system bundles is
absolutely necessary.

There is very little difference in the bundling of IE with Windows and
bundling networking with Windows.  Netscape was precluded from the
market with one.  Lantastic and others were precluded from that
multibillion dollar market with the other.  Java was not precluded but
is has suffered enormous damage as a direct result of Microsoft's
illegal acts.

Cross-platform technologies such as networking, Java and internet
technologies must be developed, marketed and distributed independent of
any and all operating systems.  They are all subsystems or middleware
that are sufficiently different from operating systems to be required to
be sold in their own market.

Bundling across markets as Microsoft has done with its monopoly power
must be ended.

-- 
Lewis A. Mettler, Esq.(Attorney and Software Developer)
lmettler@LAMLaw.com
http://www.lamlaw.com/ (detailed review of the Microsoft antitrust
trial)