[Am-info] [Fwd: [ale] M$ lobying]

[Wandered Inn]

>  "Microsoft Tries Another Court; Public Opinion"
>  New York Times (06/12/00) P. A1; Broder, John M.
> 
>  Microsoft has begun an all-out publicity campaign to persuade lawmakers
>  and the public to back the software giant in its battle with antitrust
>  regulators and the courts. The company is contributing to both major
>  political parties, hiring lobbyists, backing the creation of seemingly
>  independent trade associations, running ads in the major media outlets,
>  and supporting free-market oriented research groups. Computer and
>  Communication Industry Association President Ed Black, whose
>  organization is mainly backed by Microsoft opponents, says, "It's
>  everywhere and it's huge." Microsoft critics, including Sun
>  Microsystems, IBM, Novell, America Online, and Oracle are responding
>  with a huge push of their own, including the hiring of former federal
>  judge Robert H. Bork, PR firms, and other lobbyists. Total spending in
>  anti-Microsoft propaganda surpassed $11 million in 1999, according to
>  the Federal Election Commission, while Microsoft spent $4.6 million.
> 
>  Microsoft's Rick Miller says the company's PR efforts are in response
>  to the attacks by its rivals and the portrayal of Microsoft as a bully.
>  Miller says, "Microsoft is fully intent on mobilizing our assets and
>  our friends to tell our story." Miller says the company does not expect
>  Congress or other political leaders to intercede in its court case. He
>  says, "We feel we have a good case on appeal and we're very much
>  focused on fighting the battle in the courts and not in the political
>  arena." Microsoft's political lobbying efforts were virtually
>  nonexistent six years ago, but today the company is the third-biggest
>  corporate political contributor, with only AT&T and Philip Morris
>  contributing more. It also is aggressively pursuing a grass roots
>  effort to mold public opinion, and has hired the same consulting firm
>  that Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush uses.
> 
>  http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/06/biztech/articles/12lobby.html

--
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric@denali.atlnet.com

Microsoft != Innovation