And what of substance are you adding, John, other than to regurgitate the Microsoft company line? Microsoft has a right to make any argument it likes in court, just like Johnny Cochran did. Before the right audience, it plays well, but this matter isn't before a jury of Microsoft shareholders. I've heard too many times how different Microsoft is than anything else in the history of the known universe, and how this puts them above, beyond, around the law. Maybe Bill will supercede all governments, maybe not, I sort of doubt Microsoft would be very successful in an anarchic world, but who knows.
I learned my lesson here, I don't argue fine points of the law, only earnest high school civics. There are laws on the book, and a process for enforcing them and resolving disputes about what they mean. Microsoft's lawyers are free to advocate whatever position they want, but theirs is not the final word. The thing that always comes to mind when these arguments come up is what Archibald Cox said on a fateful Saturday night long ago. Are we a government of laws or men? If the men are Bill and old Steverino in his ethical, courteous, humorous wonder world, I'll take laws any day, even if I find some of them extremely stupid.
Cheers, Dan. |
