The Future of Innovation At Stake?

Neuropol writes "Next week, Microsoft will launch a challenge against the European Union's highest court. The European Commission will need to decide if they are to overturn the EU Court's 2004 Anti-Trust case ruling. Amid arguments over the usual suspects like Windows Media Player, one of the key points of the CNN article that caught my attention was this quote from a EU Commission lawyer stating that Microsoft aims 'to eliminate the openness of the Internet, to proprietize the Internet, the lawyer said, adding the groundwork will be laid in Microsoft's forthcoming new operating system, Vista.'"

Comments

where's the urgency?

[xIcemanx]

Microsoft aims 'to eliminate the openness of the Internet, to proprietize the Internet, the lawyer said, adding the groundwork will be laid in Microsoft's forthcoming new operating system, Vista.

Well if that's the case then we have nothing to worry about.

Re:where's the urgency?

[jarrell]

I would comment on this article, but slashdot is sadly behind the times and doesn't support my Microsoft Slashdot (tm) Reader's (tm) Article Post (pat. pend. microsoft) Internet (tm) Extension (tm), or even the patentend "Click-to-post" button... I'm afraid until Slashdot straightens up and supports modern (microsoft) interoperable (microsoft) standards, and joins the (microsoft) internet that they'll be sadly left behind. (tm)

Sharks with friggen lasers

[MECC]

"In the upcoming years we'll conquer the Internet."

If MS does manage to 'conquer the internet', that would be like the Catholic church successfully conquering that irritating 'printing press' when it first showed up. After, it was being used to print unauthorized material that was distributed by a network of individuals via unauthorized channels, worst of all information critical of the holy mother church. The horror.

The more they tighten their grasp, the more of the internet will slip through their fingers....

Re:Sharks with friggen lasers

[Mayhem178]

The more they tighten their grasp, the more of the internet will slip through their fingers....

Microsoft: Not after we demonstrate the power of this new operating system. In a way, you have determined the choice of the market that will be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with control over the Internet, we have chosen to test this operating system's destructive power on your home PC!

Consumers: No! We are peaceful! We have no weapons, you can't possibly...

Microsoft: You prefer another target, a server-based target? Then name the company!

Consumers: ...

Microsoft: We grow tired of asking this, so it'll be the last time. What can we do to control the world?

Just say "no"

[alcmaeon]

Windows is just like drugs, kids. All you have to do is say "no."

Proprietize?

[boog3r]

Proprietize? How is Microsoft going to bring propriety to the internet?

Perhaps you meant proprietarize, to bring proprietary to the internet?

You should quitize using izes... you are havizing no needize to verbalize a noun all the time...

So, this why ...

[tddoog]

the real player still exists. (FTA) RealNetworks gave up competing last year after Microsoft paid it $761 million to settle a private antitrust suit and for a marketing agreement.

I have always wondered how they have survived.

definitions

[psbrogna]

There appears to be some confusion over the definition of "forthcoming". It's unlikely you'd say for example "the forthcoming heat death of the universe."

Re:Old argument

[Billosaur]

Am I the only person who remembers accusations that Microsoft released a patch to Windows that caused Real Player to malfunction?

Real Player has always been able to malfunction well enough without Microsoft's help -- they just enhanced the process.

Re:Old dog, old tricks.

[zerocool^]

I heard they weren't going to conquer the intrnet.

I head they WERE GOING TO FUCKING KILL THE INTERNET! *THROWS CHAIR*