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Open Source Firm Files Microsoft Complaint
Rob writes "Computer Business Review is reporting that Australian Linux and open source consultancy
Cybersource Pty has filed a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission calling on it to force PC vendors to offer hardware without Microsoft Corp's
Windows operating system. The company has estimated that the cost to Australian consumers
of Microsoft's monopoly position is at least AUS 200m ($151m) a year, although that
calculation is based on an assumption that Windows and Office account for 50% of the
company's AUS 1bn ($759m) annual Australian revenue, and
that its 80% profit margin for those products should be more like 10%."
If these companies can see profit in doing it they will , or they don't they will lose business
The point at which it is appropriate for a government to step in is when all the companies can happily tell the unhappy people to go fuck themselves because there's no alternative.
Try buying a laptop without paying Microsoft. How will the companies "lose business" when going to a competitor doesn't solve the problem? There's no alternative because the laptop market is so dominated by the big firms that niche markets like Linux laptops aren't worthwhile to big firms, and small firms can't cater to that niche because the big firms get volume discount that makes it cheaper to buy from the big firm and throw away Windows even though you paid for it.
Essentially, the market has fallen into a situation where any alternative to the mainstream is excluded from competing, and this is when government intervention is necessary.
You slightly missed my point.
My point is that i do not think these vendors should be the target of the lawsuit , Microsoft should be the target for using aggressive tactics to ensure exclusivity . If you stop microsoft from doing this then the vendors of the PC has a choice to offer the system with or without the OS .
Right now they are forced by a large gorilla to have all their products come with their OS , if we enact legislation like this they are forced to offer a system with or without it.
If we stop MS using these tactics they then have a choice .
And choice is one of the main things I admire about OSS
The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though