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U.S. Adds Years To Microsoft's 'Probation'
An anonymous reader writes "The U.S. Justice Department has added another two years to its agreement with Microsoft, extending the protocol licensing program that is part of the company's penance for anti-competitive activities. The organization feels Microsoft is providing documentation too slowly to its licensees." From the article: "At one time, the Justice Department and several state Attorneys General had sought a breakup of Microsoft in order to prevent it from abusing its Windows monopoly. Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson at one point ordered such a move, though his ruling was later reversed on appeal. Ultimately Microsoft settled with the Department of Justice, agreeing to far more modest restrictions, including the protocol licensing program." Relatedly, regulators have cleared Vista of anti-competitive elements. They examined the OS on concerns an added search box may have given the company a home-field advantage.
No, probation is for when the prosecution needs to look like tough guys who can handle the case, in spite of the fact that a) they don't have a legal leg to stand on; and/or b) someone higher-up in the process for making these decisions tells them not to hurt a defendant who has close ties with said higher-up. If you offer to settle for probation, the prosecution doesn't have to admit they fucked up and look like jackasses, and nine defendants out of ten will settle for it because it means no prison time.
Innocent until proven guilty? More like, "Only slightly guilty until proven really guilty."
I'm by no means a MS fan boy, though I do use XP.
:D
All I wanted to say is how exactly is it anti-competetive for them to bundle apps? I wouldn't even consider it anti-competetive to completely disallow add-on programs under their OS. I just don't understand where everyone got the idea that an operating system cannot include EVERYTHING a computer needs. Windows haters whine and complain about how it includes no useful software compared to other OS (notepad, calculator.. etc. All junk supposadly) then they start bundling somewhat useful apps (IE, Media Player, etc.) and they are anti-competetive.
What exactly is it? Did they have an ad-campaign touting their lack of features or something making it false advertising? If that isn't it then I dont understand the problem..
If they are in fact being anticompetetive then why are they not being sued for bundling an OS with their xbox consoles? Or even better.. for not making it easier to install linux on them? I understand its a "game console" which doesn't specifically say it has the ability to install 3rd party applications.. but neither does "personal computer".
Note: Most of this is in fact taken to the extreme, in which case I still think they have done nothing wrong. Also note that I DO think it sucks that they dominate the market, competetion is great... I just don't really think its their fault or they should be hurt for it. I'd like to see some other players step up and release an OS and featureset as easy to use with as much software as windows.. or possibly binary compatability / good emulation for windows apps.
I guess thats the point to an extent? If they documented everything better it would be much easier for someone / some company to do just that
Btw doesnt this psuedo-html crap to post here drive people crazy?