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Technology Stocks : Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)

AMZN 226.19

-1.8%

Dec 12 9:30 AM EST

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To: Eric Wells who wrote (102030)	4/24/2000 3:08:00 PM
From: GST	Read Replies (2) of 164684

Eric: There is an interesting attitude towards the law in the U.S. -- it is called leave it to public opinion. We try things in the media. Herbold will go on CNBC and say "people are buying our products and are happy, so we are not guilty". Bull-roar. I am not really interested in your opinion, my opinion or in public opinion at this point. I leave it to the court to decide. And they have decided. If a person or company is accused of breaking the law and is found guilty, then for my purposes they are guilty. They can appeal all they want -- and might even win. Anything might happen in the future. But they are guilty, right here and now. So the issue is the remedy. Is a breakup appropriate? I think MSFT would be getting off easy. MSFT has not killed anybody, they have just robbed them and attempted to kill other companies. They should not go to jail or be driven into bankruptcy. But in a perfect world, they would pay a hefty fine -- lets say $50-100 billion to make a blind stab to indicate the order of magnitude AND be broken up. I think breaking up the company is the LEAST costly remedy for MSFT. Clearly, from public statements, MSFT is totally unrepentent and cannot be trusted. In fact more than unrepentent -- I would say the public face of MSFT is smug, self-important and self-righteous -- "we are fighting for the principal" -- give me a break. As for Gates being generous -- I will spare you a series of comparisons with truly evil people who have been "generous" with illegally obtained money. The money Gates is giving away is money his company obtained through illegal business practices. The money he is showering on others is stolen money. Not even Mother Theresa would say no to stolen money, but that does not make Gates a saint. It makes him a crook trying to buy a good reputation which he does not deserve. After a breakup, MSFT would do well, assuming they are able to innovate as is always claimed. My view of MSFT's contribution to innovation would put it at the low end -- say a 3 on a scale from 1-10. Perhaps a breakup would force MSFT's parts to be more innovative than in the past.

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