The Rampantly Unofficial Linus Torvalds FAQ 16729

on Jun 17, 09:13 pm billwg

I'm not appariently implying anything. The record shows that Gates in his efforts to best his compebreastors and-or partners lied cheated and used intimidation in the furtherance of advancing the Microsoft monopoly. In the context of your advancing Gates as worthy of admiration. Are these still the acts of an ethical company?

Whether Judge Jackson made such a ruling does not nullify their existance. Are you trying to imply that none of the instances described in the transcript actually took place? Do you mind providing any citation showing what Judge Jacksons rulings were regarding Gates' deposition and regarding Micosoft's dealings with Netscape.

FINDINGS OF FACT

.. The actions that Microsoft took against Navigator hobbled a form of innovation that had shown the potential to depress the applications barrier to entry sufficiently to enable other firms to compete effectively against Microsoft in the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems. That compebreastion would have conduced to consumer choice and nurtured innovation. The campaign against Navigator also retarded widespread acceptance of Sun's Java implementation.

.. It is clear, however, that Microsoft has retarded, and perhaps altogether extinguished, the process by which these two middleware technologies could have facilitated the introduction of compebreastion into an important market.

.. 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 compebreastion 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.

`The inclusion of Internet Explorer with Windows at no separate charge increased general familiarity with the Internet and reduced the cost to the public of gaining access to it, at least in part because it compelled Netscape to stop charging for Navigator.'

`Microsoft also engaged in a concerted series of actions designed to protect the applications barrier to entry, and hence its monopoly power, from a variety of middleware threats, including Netscapes Web browser and Suns implementation of Java. Many of these actions have harmed consumers in ways that are immediate and easily discernible. They have also caused less direct, but nevertheless serious and far-reaching, consumer harm by distorting compebreastion.'

Thomas Penfield Jackson U.S. District Judge Nov 05 1999