Judge's Findings in Microsoft Case Could Adversely Impact High-Tech Companies and US Economy
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) today said that the Findings of Fact issued by the presiding judge in the Microsoft antitrust trial could have wide-ranging, damaging effects on the high-tech sector and the U.S. economy.
"The Judge's findings seem to signal of the beginning of aggressive regulatory intervention into the high-tech economy, and if so, it will go down in history as a colossal mistake," said ACT President Jonathan Zuck. "With news emerging daily about innovation and competition in the tech sector, it's clear that it is impossible for anyone to have a permanent, impenetrable lock in this highly dynamic market, let alone predict the future as Judge Jackson
has attempted to do."
ACT, a national IT trade association that represents mostly small- and medium- sized tech businesses, is the industry's strongest voice when it comes to preserving competition and innovation. With good reason, the group's members strongly prefer marketplace decisions over regulated ones. "It's a competitive system that has propelled our industry to being the leading force behind the nation's new economy. IT accounts for one third of America's economic growth," added Mr. Zuck. "This is not an indication of an industry that needs regulating."
IT executives across the nation, the leaders that are driving the American economy into the next century, also have been outspoken in their opposition to the case. Earlier this year, ACT commissioned a survey to gauge IT executives' opinions of the case and of the so-called "remedies" that have been suggested by Microsoft's largest and most successful competitors.
A strong majority of executives said they believe regulation of technology development will drive up prices for consumers (70 percent) and will limit product innovation (72 percent). Industry professionals said they oppose a breakup of Microsoft (63 percent), oppose requiring Microsoft to include competing versions of other companies' software in Windows (72 percent), and oppose requiring Microsoft to license Windows to other companies (77 percent).
"There is no question that the IT industry opposes this case," said r. Zuck. "This case is bigger than Microsoft ... they can survive being regulated. It's small businesses that will suffer from this sort of radical intervention into the competitive market." |
