Re: [News] [Linux] Microsoft's Linux Obsession, Apple Anvy
Roy Schestowitz wrote:
Rafael on Monday
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/msdoj/2002/FinalDecree.pdf
<SNIP>
V. Termination
A. Unless this Court grants an extension, this Final
Judgment will expire on the fifth anniversary of the date on
which it takes effect.
B. In any enforcement proceeding in which the Court has
found that Microsoft has engaged in a pattern of willful and
systematic violations, the Plaintiffs may apply to the Court
for a one-time extension of this Final Judgment of up to two
years, together with such other relief as the Court may deem
appropriate. [/quote]
If I am reading this correctly, unless otherwise extended by
the court, those sanctions against Microsoft initiated
November 1, 2002 will expire on November 1, 2007.
Perhaps someone here may be able to share the significance
or non-significance of this here.
It would have been very fascinating if it was to expire on
November 1st/2nd of 2006 because Microsoft and/or Novell
announced an urgent press release just the same day or the day
before the deal was struck, on November 2nd.
Bear in mind that they secretly negotiated for about 6 months
prior to this.
The timing of the Fortune article on so-called patent
violations (Sunday May 14th, IIRC) is no coincidence either. A
one-page report was written to point out that it was carefully
written to intensify drama. Microsoft must have worked on this
together with Forbes, which is known to be anti-Free software
and employ astroturfers such as Dan Lyons.
It is kind of sad that news media must be manipulated, instead of
laissez faire. It makes it tough for the little guy to compete
against monopoly considerations. Yet, competition helps to bring
a better product and a better price to the consumer. There was a
study done by the US Government pre-dating WOW2, which basically
stated that in order to receive a fair price required at least 10
competitors.
You do not see that with the automobile industry. There is more
interdependence than independence. You wonder why motor vehicles
are so expensive.
This is why Open Source and Linux is important. Besides
providing value, it helps to keep all proprietary software
concern's costs down.
--
Cheers, Rafael
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/linux/advocacy/faq-and-primer/
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm
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