[Am-info] What next?

[John Poltorak]

Following the Judge's ruling that appears to draw line under the 
Anti-trust case.

Do have to accept the MS can break as many laws as it likes and get away 
with it? Is there anthing left for us to do get any justice?

I have just re-read the closing paragraph of Judge Penfold's Findings of 
Fact, and this was upheld on appeal so I guess is still pertinent. It 
says:-


Most harmful of all is the message that Microsoft's actions have
conveyed to every enterprise with the potential to innovate in the
computer industry. Through its conduct toward Netscape, IBM, Compaq,
Intel, and others, Microsoft has demonstrated that it will use its
prodigious market power and immense profits to harm any firm that
insists on pursuing initiatives that could intensify competition
against one of Microsoft's core products. Microsoft's past success in
hurting such companies and stifling innovation deters investment in
technologies and businesses that exhibit the potential to threaten
Microsoft. The ultimate result is that some innovations that would
truly benefit consumers never occur for the sole reason that they do
not coincide with Microsoft's self-interest.



I do not see one reason at all to see any prospoect of additional  
competitvity being introduced into the computer industry as a result of 
the last four and a half years Anti-trust trial.


I guess I will just have to start my own letter writing campaign to 
prominent individuals pointing out the ludicrous waste of time we have 
just endured.

It seems MS have briefed the media pretty well. The BBC are saying that 
as a result of the case, MS' rivals will be able to provide some 
competition to MS. Of course, they neglect to mention any of these 
mythical rivals. The BBC also seems to put forward the view that MS has 
been materially harmed in some way, whereas the truth is that its monopoly 
position has effectively been legitimised by this action. The BBC does not 
have a clue about the implication of this ruling, or at least that is the 
message purveyed, but I can't help thinking there has been some 
'encourgement' from MS to arrive at this view.


-- 
John