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Technology Stocks : Rambus (RMBS) - Eagle or Penguin -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim McMannis who wrote (58629)	10/23/2000 7:21:56 PM
From: Dave B	Respond to of 93625

Jim, Actually, there seems to be a new American way. It's called a lawsuit...sad but true. Apparently this is the one you endorse... Actually, I don't think I've ever posted my feelings on the subject. But since you brought it up... First of all, lawsuits have been around for as long as civil laws have existed, which is much longer than the US of A has existed. The strength we have is the codification of civil laws and the flexibility to modify those laws, as well as courts to try to judge fairly any disagreements. Certainly, as society has become more complex, the laws have had to become more complex as well. It's an unfortunate fact. We didn't need complex privacy laws a hundred years ago, for example, because no one had ever heard of credit cards or database marketing or online systems that could transfer information in a blink. Would you prefer that we return to the myth of the Old West or something? If someone calls you a name in public, grab a gun and go have a shoot-out? If he damages your car, wait until he comes out of work and then run him over? Is this the right penalty for transgressions? And how many innocent people get hurt in the cross-fire? The prevention of these acts (by providing a well-accepted alternative) is what helps put civil in our civilization. Our system was designed to have a civil way to handle perceived transgressions. Contracts try to help ensure that you don't have to go to court, and civil trials help ensure that both sides get a fair hearing when you do have to go. Since you mention it, however, I also wish there were fewer lawsuits that Rambus had to deal with. Without doing an exact count, my estimate is that more lawsuits have been filed against Rambus than by Rambus. It would certainly be my preference that the litiginous-happy Micron, Infineon, et. al. had continued to negotiate in good faith, as Rambus hoped they would do. But apparently they'd rather sue. Dave