On Thu, Dec 13, 2001 at 07:47:57AM +0000, Ian wrote:
The problem is the big companies abusing the current IP laws. MS in particular employs 600 lawyers. With there cash mountain they're unstoppable in court, they bog all litigants in IP cases down in expensive lawsuits and drive them out of business. Stac won their case but were put out of business by MS well before the settlement - even though Stac won the case they lost big. Which is why independent software vendors who come up with something novel sell out to MS - they're made an offer they can't refuse. Microsoft are no longer primarily a tech company, they're a legal company.
I see that BT are trying to jump on this sordid little bandwagon and sue some ISP for infringing their `hyperlink' patent. I'd stop BT providing my 'phone line in protest but then I'd have to do without. Another bloody monopoly!
One side of me says campaign to have them regulated, but the other says don't. let them keep putting the price up because then Open Source will become increasingly attractive.
It was established in the findings of fact that there is no pressure on them whatsoever to cut their prices. Their margins are obscene & it was a crucial piece of evidence in establishing that they were a monopoly in the first place. People often have to run Windows whether they like it or not - even I have to run it - and believe me I don't like it. Price is not an issue. The only way to stop this continuing is to regulate & regulate hard.
I don't have a BT line at all. Its all NTL, mainly because its cheaper and faster. BT are not doing wonderfully well.
I don't get NTL out in the sticks here. BT & the rest of the telecoms companies aren't doing terribly well because they got screwed over by their respective governments for their 3G licences - which was not good for anybody as they've now got stuff all money to invest in infrastructure & they'll never get more than a fraction back of what they paid for the licences.
Every dog has its day and MS haven't been going long in the scheme of things. The Roman Empire collapsed, so did the Soviet Union and MS dominance will last rether less lime than either but the dissidents need to collectively put their energy in in as effective ways as possible to shorten the timescale as much as possible. If they abuse their position the long term outcome will be inevitable, just a matter of when.
Agreed. Thankfully there's no historical precedent for 1000yr Reichs ;-)
The American political system is undoubtedly as corrupt as anything on this planet and FWIW their legal sytem sucks too in that the more money you've got, the better chance you have of winning your case.
I can think of worse.
Name & shame them! I can't think of any political system where corruption and bribery of the political class is institutionalised in the shape of the PACs (political action commitees). Everywhere else it seems to be done on an `ad hoc' basis.
Being essentially a client state they'll try and go for it in this country but I think the Europeans might have their doubts about it - I guess we'll just have to wait & see.
Just keep lobbying. It can make a difference.
Will do :) -- Frank *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Boroughbridge. Tel: 01423 323019 --------- PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/ Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood. -- Daniel Hudson Burnham