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Monopolists Dropped Off At The County Line

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the interesting-approach dept.

An anonymous reader submits: "In this discussion thread members of PLUG (Phoenix Linux Users Group) may have come up with a way to pressure governmental agencies to switch to software other than that from Microsoft. County purchasing policies in Maricopa County, AZ prohibit purchasing from companies or persons convicted under state or federal antitrust statutes. At least one other county, Coconino, that I have checked so far has similar requirements. I think that it's time to make the government follow their own rules and stop spending any more money with criminals."

7 of 398 comments (clear)

  1. Debarment by Ioldanach · · Score: 5, Informative

    Note the second link's page doesn't actually say that the contractor must be debarred (prevented from providing services), but only that they may be debarred for a period of up to 3 years. I expect that someone would have to bring this up in a council meeting of some sort to actually have the action taken.

  2. Re:Seems unconstitutional to me... by miracle69 · · Score: 5, Informative

    A law set forth in a podunk Arizona county

    Yeah, Maricopa is a podunk county. Not much there, considering it's the fourth largest county in the U.S. Oh, and it's the fastest gaining county in the U.S. as well.

    --
    Linux - Because Mommy taught me to Share.
  3. Re:MSFT was not convicted by evilpenguin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Um, not true. The findings of fact and conclusions of law are entered. They have survived appeal. It is only the "sentencing" (the remedy) that is in dispute. Microsoft does indeed stand convicted of violations of the Sherman Act.

  4. shouldn't it start from the top? by night_flyer · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think that it's time to make the government follow their own rules and stop spending any more money with criminals.

    29 members of Congress have been accused of spousal abuse.
    7 have been arrested for fraud.
    19 have been accused of writing bad checks.
    3 have been arrested for assault.
    71 have credit reports so bad they can't qualify for a credit card.
    14 have been arrested on drug-related charges.
    8 have been arrested for shoplifting.
    21 are current defendants in lawsuits.
    And in 1998 alone, 84 were stopped for drunk driving, but released after they claimed Congressional immunity.

    --


    Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
    Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
    1. Re:shouldn't it start from the top? by karmawarrior · · Score: 4, Informative

      There's quite a good debunking that puts the entire thing in context - essentially a second reading of this list of horrors actually shows it's mostly innuendo and cheap showmanship.

      --
      KMSMA (WWBD?)
  5. Not a criminal matter by Animats · · Score: 5, Informative
    Microsoft doesn't have a criminal conviction. Microsoft has a loss in a civil antitrust suit. There is criminal antitrust law, but Microsoft wasn't charged under it. That's for collusion between supposed competitors. (Think RIAA, not Microsoft).

    Arthur Andersen LLP has a criminal conviction for obstruction of justice. That's much worse. As of last Saturday, they're out of the auditing business, because the SEC won't accept audits from a felon. All Andersen audit clients must find new auditors immediately. The company will probably go bankrupt. Criminal charges against individual executives may follow.

    1. Re:Not a criminal matter by PhilHibbs · · Score: 5, Informative
      You're right, but...
      3. Conviction or civil judgment finding a violation by any Person or any subsidiary or affiliate of any Person under State or Federal Antitrust Statutes.
      No mention of "criminal" there, so the rules still apply.