Microsoft Defined

[Emp3r0r]

Today the courts ruled. Read the court ruling (http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/Opinions/2002/Kotelly/FinalDecree.pdf). I personally think I would invest money in Microsoft if I had any because they have good support for webservices (which should run on Linux).

[Emp3r0r]

I mean yesterday :P

[Infophreak]

NOT!!

As expected, all Microsoft got was a slap on the wrist and the judge saying something along the lines of: "Bad Microsoft! Don't ever do anything like this again... at least not in exactly the same way while you are standing on your head singing the Lumberjack Song"

I especially dislike the part of the ruling where it says that a group of Microsoft executives will be responsible for making sure that Microsoft lives up to the terms it. Like that is ever going to happen! Also, Microsoft gets to keep all APIs and protocols used by Windows as closed as they like (i.e. completely closed). This is definately not going to do anything to change the situation as it is now.

I sure hope that the EU (which is where I live) will be a bit more sane than this judge...

[wmansir]

This ruling is such a joke. Since the Bush administration took over Ashcroft has done everything they could to kill this prosecution. The only problem was they got there too late and MS was conviced. You know the Justice Dept. is not doing it's job when MS is doing everything it can to be sure it get's their deal.

The funniest part of yesterday's ruling was when I heard a quote from Bill Gates on the news calling it 'tough, but fair' and then going on to say MS will not be appealing.

[Justinus]

It's very disappointing! Most of commercial-OS users are in MS hand already. No so-called "fair competition" out there anymore. The only one who can match against MS could be Linux.

[mpucoder]

I guess some of you don't understand our justice system. Not unusual, most of us don't either. But this was not part of or related to the Department of Justice anti-trust case. It is a seperate civil complaint brought by many of the states. It does what the plaintiffs asked, and that is to allow OEM suppliers to include non Microsoft software in their bundles.
It's a slow process that has to go step by step. Now the contracts that OEM suppliers were forced into have been amended, Microsoft's actions declared improper. This opens the door for more actions, especially damage suits, although assessing damages can be difficult.
It requires Microsoft to police themselves. This does not prevent others from watching, and if Microsoft violates the terms of the decree, then criminal action can be taken against them. In short, it burdens them.
But I do agree that the DOJ case got railroaded.