On Tue, Jan 25, 2005 at 11:21:08AM -0500, Ken Schneider wrote:
What do you think MS does all the time when they add/bundle in another piece of software because someone else has a competing product. The latest that comes to mind is the media player that now has to be removed from XP in Europe.
From what I remember of the ruling, they don't have to remove it from XP. They have to provide a version of XP without Media Player, so that the consumer can choose to buy XP either with or without it.
Of course, ICBW.
<opinion> If MS can't buy the competing product they add their own to put the competitor out of business (can you say Netscape, first one that comes to mind). </opinion>
Or enter a "partnership" with a competitor under the pretext of licensing thier technology, end the partnership just before release day, release their new product using their competitor's technology, then use the time it takes for the competitor to take them to court to (a) undermine their competitor's business (since they're effectively releasing a free (beer) version of their competitor's product and (b) develop their own version of their competitor's product that's just different enough to be immune from a lawsuit. http://www.vaxxine.com/lawyers/articles/stac.html Oh, and these are my personal opinions, and nothing to do with my employer. -- David Smith Work Email: Dave.Smith@st.com STMicroelectronics Home Email: David.Smith@ds-electronics.co.uk Bristol, England GPG Key: 0xF13192F2