Microsoft Accuses I.B.M. of Attempted Collusion nytimes.com
It's a conspiracy! Where have we heard that line before? First, the infamous meeting quickly segued from "Mark Andreeson's fantastical invention" to a Netscape / DoJ setup. Now, it's all IBM's fault for resisting "Embrace, extend, extinguish" on the Java front. Resistance is futile, at least if resistance includes trying to make something coherent of the the Microsoft defense here.
While cross-examining John Soyring, director of network computing software for the International Business Machines Corporation, a Microsoft lawyer produced an e-mail message in which John M. Thompson, I.B.M.'s software chief, last year proposed to the leaders of Sun Microsystems Inc. and the Netscape Communications Corporation a strategy for a joint campaign against Microsoft.
Thompson urged the others to help him enlist Oracle and Novell in the effort "to put Microsoft on the defensive." The e-mail was written in response to a plan by Microsoft to establish its own version of the Java programming language.
On another front, as Gerald alluded to, we have an economist taking on the dreaded Chicago School defense head on. There's a surprise in the credentials department, though.
Warren-Boulton has held a number of prominent academic and political positions. But perhaps most interesting for someone arguing for antitrust enforcement against Microsoft is that he was chief economist for the antitrust division of the Justice Department during the Reagan Administration, when the Government chose to pursue few antitrust cases.
Take that, Rick. Of course, Microsoft always has an ad hominem response ready .
In a statement today, Microsoft contended that "Warren-Boulton's testimony is clearly that of an ivory tower consultant with little or no direct experience in the day-to-day business and competitiveness of the U.S. software industry."
Oh, I don't know. Warren-Boulton probably understands firsthand the integrity and uniformity of the Windows experience, just like the rest of us. Maybe he thinks a real competitive market might lead to an OS that sucks less. I know, ivory tower idealism. Or should I say Shirley Temple idealism, in honor of the return of a past contributor here?
Cheers, Dan. |
