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EC Principle 4: Microsoft’s financial and other incentives to distributors must
be browser-neutral
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| Microsoft has also used a range of techniques to encourage the distribution
| channel (often known as “the OEMs” for “original equipment manufacturers”) to
| ship IE. The OEM distribution channel is a funny thing. When I started
| working in this industry I assumed that the OEMs would pay software vendors
| for the right to distribute a piece of valuable software. But it turns out
| that’s backwards. The software maker pay the OEMs to include software on the
| OEM’s machine. So first the vendor makes the software, then they pay someone
| else to distribute it. The OEMs get to include software in their distribution
| packages for less-than-free — they make money by including software. This is
| because the distribution channel — the ability to actually get human beings
| to look at a piece of software — is so valuable. Software vendors end up
| paying for their products to reach people, and hoping to make money
| afterwards. For many product-focued people I think it is hard to internalize
| just how critical the ability to get people to pay attention to the product
| is, and how “distribution” can outweigh product quality in building success.
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http://blog.lizardwrangler.com/2009/03/20/ec-principle-4-microsoft%e2%80%99s-financial-and-other-incentives-to-distributors-must-be-browser-neutral/
http://tinyurl.com/4ycawd
Recent:
E.U. mulling ordering Microsoft to carry rival web browsers
,----[ Quote ]
| In its regulatory filing in the U.S. submitted late January, Microsoft said
| that the commission is considering ordering Microsoft and computer makers
| to "obligate users to choose a particular browser when setting up a new PC."
| That might include a requirement that computer manufacturers "distribute
| multiple browsers on new Windows-based PCs," Microsoft said in the SEC
| filing.
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http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/eu-mulling-ordering-microsoft-carry/story.aspx?guid={0400E025-7A4B-44CA-9F9C-D0E0D9F1F443}&dist=msr_1
EC to Microsoft: We may still fine you
,----[ Quote ]
| In a statement earlier today, European Commission spokesperson Jonathan Todd
| is quoted by two sources, the International Herald-Tribune and the AFP, as
| having publicly renewed the EC's warning to Microsoft that it could impose
| more fines and force the company to offer competing Web browsers as an
| alternative to Internet Explorer, for the company's European edition of
| Windows 7.
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http://www.betanews.com/article/EC-to-Microsoft-We-may-still-fine-you/1235513297
EU May Order Microsoft To Carry Rival Web Browsers
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200902240924DOWJONESDJONLINE000353_FORTUNE5.htm
EU Mulling Ordering Microsoft To Carry Rival Web Browsers
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200902240721DOWJONESDJONLINE000284_FORTUNE5.htm
Microsoft fears EU fine over browser
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/24/technology/msft.4-437077.php
Mozilla: Sometimes govt. is answer to Microsoft
,----[ Quote ]
| Despite this success, Baker believes that government, and in the European
| Commission in particular, has a role to play in further leveling the playing
| field. As she notes in a recent blog post, government entities would perhaps
| have less relevance but for the antitrust activity that resulted in
| Microsoft's dominant market share in the first place:
|
| Microsoft did not obtain its (Internet Explorer) hegemony solely through
| competition on the merits of IE. A number of illegal activities were also
| involved in creating IE's market dominance...The idea that Microsoft is
| an innocent victim (of European Commission intervention) is deeply
| flawed.
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http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10167433-16.html
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