[Am-info] Reuters: Microsoft: Asia Windows Rival Would Raise Concerns

[John Bryan]

On Monday, September 8, 2003, at 12:17 PM, Roy Bixler wrote:

> Japan, China and Korea would like to collaborate to develop an
> alternative OS to Microsoft's.  Suddenly, Microsoft is complaining
> about "unfair competition."  Does Microsoft know what is fair
> competition?  Does Microsoft, a convicted monopolist, claim that they
> compete fairly?  The irony here is just too rich.
>
> Microsoft: Asia Windows Rival Would Raise Concerns
> http://www.reuters.com/ 
> newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=3396436
>

In MS and Gates' mind (one and the same?) the only fair competition is  
where no else is there to compete.

Their complaints are such a crock -- but that is standard operating  
procedure.

I had read this and managed to get to the end, but barely.  "Let the  
markets decide" ???  Please.   Are not these governments customers ?   
Are they not consumers in the market?  What if I and three of my  
wealthiest pals, (ok, for me, in reality, that ain't sayin' much, but  
play along), decided we would up and do the same thing?  Ok, so we  
three are not capable of passing national legistlation mandating or  
strongly encouraging the use of our product.  But what if we can by way  
of lobbyists ?  Hasn't this practically been done already here in the  
US ?

Don't other countries have the sovereign right to do what they dang  
well please in this respect ?

Does Gates' want the US Govt to make things tough for these governments  
by the way of trade "pay back" ?

I really believe they don't understand Fair Competition as the most of  
the sane world does.  It seems anything is Fair unless and until you  
actually include homocide.  That seems to be the limit to which they  
have been, and apparently are, willing to go.

I recall a Gates quote, "There isn't anything we won't say to get  
someone to go our way."  Or something pretty close to that, but the  
first 6 words are accurate, and for Gates, "anything" literally means  
ANYTHNG, and that can be a very big word indeed, and I am sure he meant  
it in its fully infinite connotation.

jb