Microsoft tries to reshape debate sjmercury.com
I'm a little remiss at checking up on old Dan Gillmor, but this is a great column. It predates Friday's breaking PR-Gates fiasco, but I think it's safe to say that Mr. Gillmor is not likely to show up in the paid-off ranks anytime soon. Not that an attempt hasn't been made.
MICROSOFT Corp. discovered recently that its behavior had begun to overshadow its public relations. For the first time, judges, Washington insiders and even regular folks were grasping the implications of the company's monopoly power over a vital industry.
As in all major public debates, setting the public agenda goes a long way toward winning hearts and minds.
Hearts and minds, who's always flogging that one around here? It gets better, though.
Here's the real issue: Microsoft's aims have never been clearer. It wants to control not just the personal computer software industry, but the very choke points of tomorrow's commerce and communications. If its record is any guide, Microsoft will stop at nothing to achieve this larger and much more dangerous monopoly -- and that should make rational consumers shudder.
I had a visit Thursday from one of Microsoft's lobbyists, Charles Rule, who was chief of the Justice Department's antitrust division during President Reagan's second term. In that anything-goes era, the department interpreted antitrust laws as allowing almost any kind of corporate behavior.
Wow, a personal visit from Charles Rule. Think he lead off with "Call me Rick"?
As the swirl of legal actions heats up in coming weeks and months, Microsoft will continue to frame the debate almost as a matter of human rights. ''At Microsoft,'' the ad concludes, ''the freedom to innovate for our customers is more than a goal, it is a principle worth standing up for.''
That's a fine principle, indeed. But it isn't the major issue here.
This is about anti-competitive behavior: how a company uses monopoly power to stifle or co-opt competitors' innovations, and how it threatens to curb, not enhance, consumer choice. Ultimately, it's about whether a single -- and sometimes unprincipled -- company will amass unprecedented power over our lives.
Well, a host of happy MSFT investors will tell you the solution to that problem- just buy the stock and shut up. Don't worry, be happy! Bill will take you where you want to go!
Cheers, Dan. |
