Microsoft’s ‘chilling effect’
p2p news / p2pnet: A Microsoft lawyer has told Europe’s Court of First Instance consumers benefited from Microsoft’s improved Windows, and competition in the audiovisual software industry was thriving, "contrary to the Commission’s predictions that rival media player providers would become extinct," says Reuters.
But, "Microsoft ended a rival’s reign as the leading media player maker by bundling its own program with Windows and could do the same to others if its appeal of a landmark antitrust ruling is granted, the European Commission and its supporters warned Tuesday," says the Associated Press.
In the first story, Microsoft said the EU made fundamental errors in deciding the company illegally tied Windows Media Player to its near-monopoly operating system.
"That theory is flawed at every step," Microsoft lawyer Jean-Francois Bellis is quoted as saying.
RealNetworks was the firm whose reign was allegedly ended, and in the second story, Microsoft "brushed off" the claims, saying it added extra functions to its operating systems to meet likely demand from consumers as, "part of a natural process of evolution in the technology sector".
RealNetworks filed an anti-trust suit against Microsoft in the US and appeared against it in a related action in Luxembourg, says Reuters, "But it settled in October for $761 million, which also included a marketing agreement" and now, "cooperates with Microsoft instead of competing".
Commission lawyer Per Hellstrom told Court of First Instance judges, "Microsoft cannot be allowed to decide who can innovate and who cannot," says AP.
Microsoft, "because of its clout and near-monopoly size, can alter innovation by other companies simply by incorporating its own program or protocol," he said, adding the company has a "chilling effect on innovation in any area where Microsoft may take an interest."
Also See:
Reuters – Microsoft tells court EU erred ‘fundamentally’, April 24, 2006
Associated Press – EU warns Microsoft will stifle innovation, April 25, 2006
April 25th, 2006 at 11:35 pm
If we get enough people using linux this wont be a problem.
April 26th, 2006 at 7:45 am
The main problem for me with Linux is that it is UNIX based and I f*ck*ng HATE UNIX. I have used several systems and UNIX is the most user unfriendly I have come across.
It won’t take off while this remains the case as the majority of people do not know anything about computers exceot for where the “on” button is. And don’t have the time or inclination to learn.
April 26th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
With Suse Linux you need to know little more than where the on button is and knowledge of Unix is simply unecessary. Give it a go!