Maurice - **OT** What a rant! Bravo! In answer to An area of monopoly I'm not touching here is patent power, which is state power backing individual creativity and ownership of that creativity. That's a more tricky area. You've thought more about it than I have and in that area I think you back the monopoly power? Yes? I'm not clear in my mind about that.
Its not monopolies that I'm against, it's abuse of their power (this, BTW, is also the position of the US government. Thus is Qualcomm, Intel, ... safe). So you are right, I have no objection to patents, especially since by statute they are inherently time limited and have anti-abuse portions.
In conclusion, you and I differ. I think the world, including shareholders, is much better off without the old Ma Bell, and I think software would be better off without Bill's abusive monopoly. (Note that if he hadn't abused it, I would be a defender of Bill even though I think that, as a monopoly, Bill's OS is both overpriced and poorly written. But he 'earned' his monopoly status and therefore has a right to it unless he abuses it.)
Clark |
