\r\n \r\n Antitrust Victory for Consumers -
\r\n Microsoft Ordered to Carry Sun's Java<\/b><\/p>\r\n
By \r\n Eric Stevenson - Axcess \r\n Business News<\/i><\/p>\r\n
In the scheme \r\n of things, sometimes the little guy wins. In the case of Microsoft \r\n (NasdaqNM: MSFT), Sun Microsystems \r\n (NasdaqNM: SUNW) won a major antitrust \r\n victory on Monday when a federal judge ordered Microsoft to distribute \r\n Sun's Java programming language in its Windows operating system.<\/p>\r\n
While some liken \r\n the antitrust victory to go to Sun, I believe the real winners were \r\n consumers. Its been no secret that Microsoft has faced federal scrutiny \r\n for monopolizing the market for its Windows operating system. Let's \r\n face facts, approximately 80% of the total market belongs to ol' \r\n Bill Gates and his comrades at Microsoft and he wasn't about to \r\n give market share easily.<\/p>\r\n
This is not \r\n the first time Microsoft has had a show down in court. AOL's Netscape \r\n communications is also facing Microsoft in a similar antitrust suit, \r\n as are less known companies such as Be Inc and Burst.com. Netscape \r\n had charged that Microsoft deliberately made their software incompatible, \r\n which has yet to face any similar ruling as was handed down today \r\n by U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz.<\/p>\r\n
In \r\n a forty-two page opinion Judge Motz said, \"I find it as an \r\n absolute certainty, that unless a preliminary injunction is entered, \r\n Sun will have forever lost its right to compete, and the opportunity \r\n to prevail, in a market undistorted by its competitor's antitrust \r\n violations.\"<\/p>\r\n
Of course Microsoft \r\n stated they would ask for an appeal to Judge Motz's ruling, according \r\n to Microsoft spokesman, Jim Dresler who said, \"Clearly we're \r\n disappointed with today's ruling and still need to review the details \r\n of the court's decision.\"<\/p>\r\n
While it stands \r\n as no surprise that Microsoft would even consider asking for an \r\n appeal, the case itself has greater baring on those cases yet to \r\n be tried. You may recall that the government had settled with Microsoft \r\n in their landmark antitrust suit after U.S. District Judge Colleen \r\n Kollar-Kotelly endorsed it. Judge Kollar-Kotelly had rejected a \r\n Java \"must-carry\" proposal by nine state attorneys general, \r\n although Massachusetts and West Virginia are appealing that decision.<\/p>\r\n
Mike Morris, \r\n Sun Vice President, said in a prepared statement that the ruling \r\n will benefit consumers and software developers. \"This decision \r\n changes the dynamics of the distribution channel for the Java technology. \r\n That technology promises to open the markets now monopolized by \r\n Microsoft to the benefits of robust competition and unrestrained \r\n innovation.\"<\/p>\r\n
Judge \r\n Motz took a good shot at two Microsoft officials who had testified \r\n during the trial, saying, \"they share what some might characterize \r\n as their employer's imperialist inclinations.\"<\/p>\r\n
In his ruling, \r\n Judge Motz considered what the future impact of Microsoft's prior \r\n actions would have on the market, unlike Judge Kollar-Kotelly. \"Microsoft, \r\n Sun and the developer community are all looking toward the future, \r\n and in order to determine whether a must-carry injunction is necessary \r\n and appropriate, a court must do so as well,\" Motz said.<\/p>\r\n
In my opinion \r\n Sun's Vice President was right, this is a victory for consumers. \r\n We use Windows operating systems and have felt helpless as millions \r\n of others have who faced the same dilemma all users of Microsoft \r\n software have; compatibility. Its seems lame to think that a company \r\n like Microsoft would be so shortsighted as to curtail its own customers \r\n from having value-added software compatible with their own. Life's \r\n hard enough and the vines of life that bind twixt our feet (careful, \r\n I'm getting poetic) make roads hard to traverse. What I mean is \r\n it's lame to be deliberately made to use a product merely out of \r\n fear that I might change entirely. Have you bought any operating \r\n software lately? The cost and the time it takes to learn how to \r\n use it prohibit many users from switching, let alone upgrading!<\/p>\r\n
I can only pray \r\n that Judge Motz's ruling is not overturned. Consumers need a break, \r\n especially from our court system. People's faith in American government \r\n is waning all over the world, not just in the United States and \r\n we need to do all we can to support our government and they need \r\n to support us in return and show the world that democracy still \r\n works and sometimes, the little guy wins. That's democracy in action, \r\n isn't it?<\/p>\r\n
Back \r\n to Top News Stories >><\/b><\/p>\r\n
\r\n Give us your feedback on this Story<\/b><\/p>\r\n
Disclaimer
\r\n The views or opinions contained Inside Commentary are those of the \r\n editor and are not necessarily the views or opinions of Axcess Business \r\n News. Comments made are independent of this web site, its partners \r\n sites, or the staff, employees, directors, officers or agents of \r\n Axcess Business News. No comments, views or opinions are intended \r\n to support any political party, organization, association or group, \r\n directly or indirectly, in any manner. Inside Commentary is purely \r\n an editorial presentation of our editor on subjects of interest \r\n to our audience. If you have any comments or suggestions please \r\n direct them to editor@theaxcess.net.<\/p>\n","contact":"editor@theaxcess.net","link":"http:\/\/www.theaxcess.net","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"Consumers won a major antitrust victory on Monday when a federal judge ordered Microsoft to distribute Sun's Java programming language in its Windows operating system.","numcomment":3,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2002\/12\/24758.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":24834,"heading":"editor","article":"thank you; I've been posting select peices for about a month now and you were the first person to make a comment. I appreciate that!\r\n\r\nI was affraid some nut would acuse me of being too right wing. \r\n\r\nI really like the independent media organization I only wish there were more non-political subjects posted. This I hate America theme is getting a little old. I came from the burn your draft card era, the Chicago Seven, etc. Those were radical times! The same people are parents now, lawyers, nurses, drive mini-vans or SUV's. There will always be strife in the world, I only wonder how it will change again...\r\n\r\nAnyway, thanks for complement! Go over to our website and subscribe. I send one news letter every Monday night stating the latest top story and commentary and yes, the stock picks too. \r\n\r\nIn my own way, I'm doing something when I draw attention to something, even if only one person see's it, its one more than there was yesterday.","author":"Eric Stevenson","parent_id":24758,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-12-29 00:27:16","modified":"2002-12-29 00:27:16","fileurl":""}]}