Eric:
I have no hatred for the company or the man. I am buying more MSFT products every day.
<I won't, however, consider the case closed until after the appeal.>
If we all took this attitude, then being found guilty of anything would simply be "round one".
[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'd be curious to know on what you are basing this opinion? I plead ignorance when it comes to anti-trust remedies.>
The issue here can be captured under one unifying concept -- illegal use of market power to obtain huge profits through illegal behavior. There are usually two aspects: you lose the money you made illegally and you are forced to cease the behavior. If you do not acknowledge the behavior, "structural" remedies are appropriate.
[Clearly, from public statements, MSFT is totally unrepentent and cannot be trusted.]
<There's a fine line between putting up a defense a being unrepentant. Are you suggesting that the company should have capitulated and admitted guilt the moment they were accused? Is not Gates & co. acting in the best interest of shareholders by putting up a defense?>
It is absurd IMO to believe that Gates et al are acting in the best interests of their shareholders at this point. Settling before judgement would have been in the best interests of MSFT shareholders. Gates and company CANNOT bring themselves to admit they have behaved like thugs and crooks -- this is about ego and power. Worse still, it is incompetent representation. The legal team probably expected to be able to defeat justice by dragging this on forever -- and probably still plan to. If you are a MSFT shareholder, maybe you should consider class action against Gates et al for their incompetence in handling this case at almost every step of the way.
[but that does not make Gates a saint.]
<I never claimed he was a saint. But he's certainly not Hitler either. Your words are harsh - and the appear to arise out of true hatred of the man.>
I could not care less about Gates. But I do not believe he or MSFT is above the law. BTW, the lack of anything "evil" is why I did not bother with comparisons -- the point being, nothing about giving away stolen money to buy a good reputation is deserving of respect -- even if you are only "a little dirty".
[My view of MSFT's contribution to innovation would put it at the low end -- say a 3 on a scale from 1-10.]
<Interesting that you should throw this in at the end of your post - as though the company is being charged with not being innovative enough as well. Again, on what are you basing this opinion?>
I mention this because it is the "principal" MSFT execs have claimed from the beginning as the cornerstone of their case -- "we reserve the right to innovate" -- with plentiful references to how MSFT made the world of info-tech possible.
Thanks,
-Eric |
