How high will Microsoft fly? Message Board

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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly?

MSFT 503.77

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10:38 AM EST

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To: cheryl williamson who wrote (34243)	11/18/1999 5:02:00 PM
From: John F. Dowd	Read Replies (2) of 74651

CW: You don't think like PMSW. Hmmm. Listen why doesn't Coke publish their formula. It is their property! Intellectual property is the same as any other property. To force them to give it away would be confiscation of private property. This would be a tough legal position for the DOJ to pursue. But suppose MSFT did sell the rights to their code where is the benefit to anyone. 1st the buyers of these rights would not have the manpower to maintain the code.2. In an effort to be something other than a me too product the new company would make changes which might not be too good for the consumer. We can easily foresee the crazy quilt patchwork of 3-5 Win98's all with different level of compatibilities. Presently I believe that the API's are available to bona-fide developers.3. What is the point when the next version of Windows will be entirely different from the kernel out i.e. It will not be a DOS overlay? What will the competing Win companies then demand that they get a free copy of the new system? If they don't they will be dead in the water as MSFT kicks into binary afterburner? Why, as the DUKE suggests, doesn't every one open their source code up? Why doesn't AOL want to allow MSFT access to its AIM messenger customers? This seems like restraint of trade to me and I feel like entering a a class action suit because I cannot communicate with my kids without getting AIM - how abusive of my rights as a consumer. The remedies proposed are as absurd as the judge's conclusions of findings of fact. There are a 1000 more reasons why this is a bad idea and these are just a few. JFD

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