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Microsoft Flouting DOJ Settlement?
An anonymous reader writes "According to the Washington Post, Microsoft is not adhering to the terms of its deal with the DOJ. Specifically, there are allegations that it is "trying to license key pieces of its technology at inflated rates" and "thwarting its antitrust settlement with the federal government". They're charging $100,000 just to see technical info about their communication protocols, and you only get $50,000 back if you decide you don't want to license them. Whoda thunk?"
something you knee-jerk types might not realize is that this is absolutely normal business procedure. for example, this is the exact same deal that movie poster designers in hollywood have with the studios. it's just a way to recoup the losses that exposure to novel ideas incurs. it is completely typical, and in fact, defensible by ample precedent.
as has been pointed out in other comments, this practice isn't even in conflict with the DOJ settlement. This is just muck-raking by the have-nots. ho-hum.
If you have some real evidence, please show it, otherwise, STFU with your useless blathering.
Personally, I don't care one way or the other, but I'm sick of all the unsubstantiated anti-Bush bullshit.
OTOH, Clinton gave pardons to some pretty shady individuals, but people don't talk about that anymore... Do you take issue with Clinton for that? I hope so, otherwise you are a hypocrite.
disclaimer: I am not a Republican. I did not vote for Bush. I do not wish the Enron executives anything but pain and suffering for the rest of their lives.
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
Like we couldn't figure out the URL to the Washington Post. For christ's sake, just link to the fucking article, and leave the URL stew out of it.
sure. you weren't going to bring cases primarily about people whining about "fairness" (what a ridiculous concept)
:) (which is better than the greens, who are a bunch of pot head do-everything-wrongs.)
this is a key difference between democrats (who are essentially socialists) and republicans (who are essentially assholes)
me, id rather be an asshole. at least assholes don't go around making laws to reel in other assholes.
re: working on my dime; id happily pay the congress people the same salary to just stop working. i don't think i need any more laws. after we pay them to not pass new bad laws for a while, we can start shifting the focus to repealing existing bad laws. we should give bonuses to congresses that repeal the most number of laws.
ideally rather be libertarian, except they're a bunch of pot head do-nothings as near as i can tell
at this point im interested in the team thats going to pass the least restrictive laws that affect my daily life. thats currently the republicans. democrats really need to get over this whole self righteous "this is how i think it should be, lets pass a law to make it that way" attitude. ralph nader _especially_ needs to get over that attitude, as he has it worse then just about anyone.
My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
It would seem that MS is playing its cards the same way Saddam did. Eventually, this "law and order" regime (if it is to retain that title) will have no political choice but to eventually slam MS down, and good.
Not going to happen. Not while G. W. Bush, et. al. is sucking Big Business's dick. The base ideology of the Republican party is "Business can do no wrong". As far as they our concerned the law exists to protect business. The moment the law gets in the way of business, that law goes into the rubbish bin like yesterdays newspaper. Microsoft knows this. If they ever get into trouble all they have to do is stall in court until the next election cycle, purchase a few congress sluts, and bingo! they get a free pass. If this makes you unhappy, do something about it. Oh, here is a free clue, bitch on slashdot is NOT doing doing something about it.
Another day closer to redwood heaven
You don't want to abide by Microsoft's EULAs. But you want people to abide by the GPL?
How come Apple bundles a Web browser (Safari), Media Jukebox software (iTunes), Video Editing software (iMovie) etc in their OS, and everyone is in love with them, but when MS does it everyone screams bloody murder??? Both are putting little guys out of business through bundling. Stop being so hypocritical.