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Microsoft Leaves U.N. Standards Group

Posted by timothy on from the straightforward dept.

pk2000 writes "Microsoft withdrew from a United Nations software standards group for commerce. 'Unfortunately, for now, we have made the decision to stop participating in U.N./Cefact for business reasons and this serves as notification of our immediate withdrawal from all U.N./Cefact activities.' This might be connected to Microsoft's intention to build up its patent portfolio. Currently it has about 5,000 patents and seeks to at least double this number by the end of 2005."

2 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    am I not surprised?

  2. Oh, it's far too late for that... by caitsith01 · · Score: -1, Redundant

    ...the flamebait mod-squad is on your ass like stink on a monkey!

    I mean, I would say its relatively, well, 'insightful' to compare MS withdrawing from a UN software group with the US withdrawing from the international community. The motives and consequences could be realistically compared and the likely outcomes considered. We could then discuss multilateralism as a business/technology concept as well as a purely political notion, and maybe make a few connections with the idea of the GPL.

    But, hey, what would I know? I'm just a regular, informed followed of technology news and international politics. Not a suburban geek ha>or g0d like most of our moderator betters.

    I see you at the bottom of the mod pit.

    --
    Read Pynchon.