Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : MSFT Internet Explorer vs. NSCP Navigator -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Daniel Schuh who wrote (15925)	1/9/1998 12:06:00 AM
From: Daniel Schuh	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24154

GATES ON BULLIES, BROWSERS--AND THE FUTURE businessweek.com This is the actual interview, which seems strangely familiar, deja vu all over again, stuff you've read elsewhere. I always get that feeling with Microsoft, there's a ministry of truth putting out the line of the moment through multiple channels. Anyway, I restrict myself to one particular excerp on a line that's had some success PR wise, but which I've noted repeatedly I'm somewhat dubious about. LOBBYING WASHINGTON: The people who compete with us are a lot more sophisticated about spending money on politicians than we are. I've been very naive. I thought just sitting here and writing great products was enough. I've been criticized for not realizing that's how the world works, and maybe I made a big mistake. I wasn't back there [in Washington] like they were. And now that we've done tiny things in that direction, the headlines are: ''Microsoft Buying Influence.'' You're damned if you get involved and damned if you don't. It's an awful situation to be sued by the government. It certainly is bad for our reputation. Yeah, Microsoft is so inept at PR, and their lobbying efforts have been so futile. And Bill plays golf with the Pres for exercise, and the VP showed up at that CEO bash just to check out the new digs. I guess Bill just has to say this, since it's the one line people seem to be buying. Somehow, though, intellectual property rights are always at the top of the agenda with China, as opposed to all those other rights. Somehow, that new copyright bill just saled through Congress, despite those pointed headed academics being... dubious. Somehow, that software license export credit snuck into tax code, no one knows how. Somehow, on the government front as everywhere, Microsoft's interests seem to get served. I think there must be some of Al Haig's sinister forces at work here. Cheers, Dan.