An examination

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

Examination (open internet):

This examination contains 3 parts.  Each part is weighted equally.  You
may submit your answers privately, publicly or not at all.  No
examination scores or answers will be released to the public unless done
so by the student directly. Take all the time you want.

Part A:

Explain in detail how and why bundling internet technologies with a
dominant operating system affects the fairness to and the basic rights
of the consumer (corporate and individual), the manufacturer of the
product, developers of alternative solutions (such as middleware) and
the manufacturers of competing operating systems and/or internet
technologies.  Discuss how prices are affected, choices are available to
consumers and how consumers can acquire the best technology for their
intended use. Discuss who decides which products are purchased and
applied to the required tasks. Discuss who decides which tasks are to be
performed by the system. Discuss the affect on barriers to entry for
both the operating system and internet technology markets. Also discuss
how the above bundling affects the ability of highly innovative,
possibly superior or simply easier to use technology (present and
future) to enter the marketplace, achieve success and deliver benefits
to consumers.

Part B:                                                 

Explain in detail how and why bundling networking technologies with a
dominant operating system affects the fairness to and the basic rights
of the consumer (corporate and individual), the manufacturer of the
product, developers of alternative solutions (such as middleware)  and
the manufacturers of competing operating systems and/or network
technologies.  Discuss how prices are affected, choices are available to
consumers and how consumers can acquire the best technology for their
intended use. Discuss who decides which products are purchased and
applied to the required tasks. Discuss who decides which tasks are to be
performed by the system. Discuss the affect on barriers to entry for
both the operating system and network technology markets. Also discuss
how bundling affects the ability of highly innovative, possibly superior
or simply easier to use technology (present and future) to enter the
marketplace, achieve success and deliver benefits to consumers..

Part C:

Compare and contrast your answers given in parts A and B.  If your
answers are similar, please explain why and how they are similar.  If
they are different, please explain how and why they are different and
what distinguishes them.

Bonus:

Explain how and why antitrust laws (although they are not consumers
protection laws) can and should protect the consumer by assuring
competitive prices for all products, a variety of products from which to
choose and a choice of which companies are selected by the individual
consumer as their supplier or provider.

Double Bonus:

If there are any other technologies that you would like to specifically
consider in the above question format (such as Java or Office
applications) please list those technologies and give an indication if
you would view them in a similar or dissimilar fashion.

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