Billl Gates is a monopolistic, predatory lawbreaker.
Settle down, children.
Quick course in economics 101: The goal of every company is to become a monopoly. No corporation on earth would be satisfied saying "we own 20% of market share, that's enough for us. Send the sales department to Fiji for the next 2 months."
That being said, Microsoft qualifies as a very successful company. The problem comes when it abuses its position by leveraging its dominance in market A to break into and dominate market B.
Most companies that are lucky enough to find themselves in a monopolistic position change their stance and regulate themselves, call it "acting responsibly." Ford doesn't make engines that only run on Ford Gas, GE doesn't make light bulbs that only run on GE Hydro sockets. They could, but a "benevolent company" attitude kicks in.
Once again, this isn't a defense of Microsoft. (so hands off, trolls! My Hot-Grit Fu technique beats your Natalie Portman Beowulf technique!) They didn't play nicely in the sandbox with the other children, pushed them all out, then they tried to take over the monkey bars too. But the evil was not in being a monopoly.
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Settle down, children.
Quick course in economics 101: The goal of every company is to become a monopoly. No corporation on earth would be satisfied saying "we own 20% of market share, that's enough for us. Send the sales department to Fiji for the next 2 months."
That being said, Microsoft qualifies as a very successful company. The problem comes when it abuses its position by leveraging its dominance in market A to break into and dominate market B.
Most companies that are lucky enough to find themselves in a monopolistic position change their stance and regulate themselves, call it "acting responsibly." Ford doesn't make engines that only run on Ford Gas, GE doesn't make light bulbs that only run on GE Hydro sockets. They could, but a "benevolent company" attitude kicks in.
Once again, this isn't a defense of Microsoft. (so hands off, trolls! My Hot-Grit Fu technique beats your Natalie Portman Beowulf technique!) They didn't play nicely in the sandbox with the other children, pushed them all out, then they tried to take over the monkey bars too. But the evil was not in being a monopoly.