Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Antitrust Compliance Questioned
rocketjam writes "Federal and State regulators overseeing Microsoft's compliance with their antitrust agreement with the government, are questioning whether Windows XP's "Shop for Music Online" feature violates the agreement's terms. Specifically, the feature invokes Microsoft Internet Explorer, even if the user has selected a different web browser as their default browser. A Microsoft representative said they believe they have adhered to the agreement."
A Microsoft representative said they believe they have adhered to the agreement.
In as much as Microsoft thinks they have a manifest destiny to conquer and subdue the entire computing industry, they certainly "believe" they have complied with an agreement they didn't want, fought against, and ignore whenever possible.
Napster-to-go says "Fill and refill your compatible MP3 player", which is a lie. It's not MP3. It's WMA with DRM.
Think about it, if MS wanted to stick it to the other browsers they really SHOULD use them everywhere like with Media Player and Messenger launches, etc.
With all of the proprietary crud that IE uses to make those things work the third party browsers would crash and burn (assuming MS only changed which browser gets launched and not anything else about the technology to actually support them).
Then MS could say "See judge, we told you other browsers were crap. Let us switch back to IE for the poor helpless users and all of their troubles will be over..."
but what do the feds call iTunes, Napster 2.0, etc?
How about "not subject to anti-trust litigation".
I have something in common with Stephen Hawking...
Microsoft originally got in trouble not for just being a monopoly, but for abusing it's OS monopoly to crush competition in the Browser market.
Now while everyone is crying over their Mozilla not launching instead of IE (come on babies... big freakin deal), the fact that Microsoft is abusing it's OS monopoly to go after online music sales and online search engines slips quietly under the radar.
I know you really love those Mozilla skins and Tabbing... but follow the money to see where the real crime is happening.
If the browser wars are over then why is Microsoft highjacking browser preference settings?
The browser wars are over in the same way that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are over and the Camp David Accords brought peace to the Middle East.
The world is becoming more and more browser based, like it or not, and he who controls the browser will control the platform, which right now looks to be the network.
That said, Jean-Louis Gasse was right when he told the DoJ they were prosecuting the wrong behaviour.
KFG
I hate Windows as much as anyone, but... what the fuck? What the fucking fuck fuck?
Are you seriously telling me that I should go into my corner store, plunk down $750 on a case, mobo, hard drive, stick of RAM, video card, and hear "I'd like to take your $149 for this gaming system you're building, Mr. Tackhead, but I've already sold my 70% of Windows XP Licenses this month. If either you or the two customers behind you would like to buy Red Hat for $49.99 and this surplus Pentium I for $99.99 and install it, right here, and sign this binding agreement that you'll continue to use it for the rest of the lifetime of the machine, my Compliance Report to the State Commissioner for Operating System Market Share will report the sale of an additional Linux license, which will permit me to sell another three Windows licenses before the SCOSMS fines kick in. Thank you for your co-operation in these trying times."
I say again - a state-mandated market share for operating systems - what the fucking fuck fuck?