Microsoft has to hand over its code
Wednesday, February 20, 2002 by stealthcow | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Microsoft has been ordered to hand over core computer code for its Windows software to lawyers it will soon face in court.
A US judge has told the software giant that its legal opponents should have the right to verify Microsoft's claims about the innards of the flagship software.
Currently nine US states are using the courts to try and impose tougher penalties on Microsoft for its flouting of antitrust laws.
Microsoft is trying to avoid handing over the code, claiming that there is not enough time before hearings are due to start.
(borrowed from bbc news)
A US judge has told the software giant that its legal opponents should have the right to verify Microsoft's claims about the innards of the flagship software.
Currently nine US states are using the courts to try and impose tougher penalties on Microsoft for its flouting of antitrust laws.
Microsoft is trying to avoid handing over the code, claiming that there is not enough time before hearings are due to start.
(borrowed from bbc news)
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Frogboy
Reply #22 Friday, February 22, 2002 1:48 PM
Reply #22 Friday, February 22, 2002 1:48 PM
Paxx:
You have an interesting philosophy. Let present mine in brief:
I look at government as a service provider. They're like the power company or the cable TV provider. I pay a free in exchange for a range of services such as roads, schools, police, national defense, etc.
In other matters, I expect the government to stay out of my way as much as possible. Let me work hard and abide by the laws in place that function as the "rules" of competing.
Sometimes, people end up becoming extremely wealthy. They come up with a product, good or service that is of massive demand and become hyper wealthy as a result. Sometimes they get there through a combination of breaking the rules and making good products/services.
The latter is the case with Microsoft. And while I blame Microsoft for their bad behavior and anti-competitive practices. I blame the government more. They are supposed to be the referrees. In hockey, if team A is cheating, it is up to the referees to stop it. But the government failed in its duty to stop Microsoft from cheating which is a shame because it is we consumers that are hurt.
But getting back to the distribution of wealth, it is not the government that creates that distribution of wealth. The government didn't make Bill Gates rich and it didn't make some homeless guy poor.
Continued...
You have an interesting philosophy. Let present mine in brief:
I look at government as a service provider. They're like the power company or the cable TV provider. I pay a free in exchange for a range of services such as roads, schools, police, national defense, etc.
In other matters, I expect the government to stay out of my way as much as possible. Let me work hard and abide by the laws in place that function as the "rules" of competing.
Sometimes, people end up becoming extremely wealthy. They come up with a product, good or service that is of massive demand and become hyper wealthy as a result. Sometimes they get there through a combination of breaking the rules and making good products/services.
The latter is the case with Microsoft. And while I blame Microsoft for their bad behavior and anti-competitive practices. I blame the government more. They are supposed to be the referrees. In hockey, if team A is cheating, it is up to the referees to stop it. But the government failed in its duty to stop Microsoft from cheating which is a shame because it is we consumers that are hurt.
But getting back to the distribution of wealth, it is not the government that creates that distribution of wealth. The government didn't make Bill Gates rich and it didn't make some homeless guy poor.
Continued...
Frogboy
Reply #23 Friday, February 22, 2002 1:48 PM
Reply #23 Friday, February 22, 2002 1:48 PM
Part II:
While I am not in favor of a flat tax necessarily, I do not see why the top 5% of the income earners should pay half the taxes when they are not getting half of the services that the government renders.
In the United States, the rich are getting richer and so are the poorer. If the poor are not getting becoming wealthier at the same speed as the richest, that is certainly not the government's fault.
If you have two speed skaters where skater A is much faster than skater B, they are both moving forward but skater A is increasing his lead over skater B over time because skater A is a better skater. Whether you like it or not, not everyone is equal when it comes to contributing to society and/or creating material wealth. And the results are akin to the speed skater analogy.
Some would argue that skater A should have lead weights tied to his skates. Others say skater B should have rockets attached to his. And in reality, we do that to a certain extent already. But do it too much and you take away the incentive to try to skate your best in the first place.
While I am not in favor of a flat tax necessarily, I do not see why the top 5% of the income earners should pay half the taxes when they are not getting half of the services that the government renders.
In the United States, the rich are getting richer and so are the poorer. If the poor are not getting becoming wealthier at the same speed as the richest, that is certainly not the government's fault.
If you have two speed skaters where skater A is much faster than skater B, they are both moving forward but skater A is increasing his lead over skater B over time because skater A is a better skater. Whether you like it or not, not everyone is equal when it comes to contributing to society and/or creating material wealth. And the results are akin to the speed skater analogy.
Some would argue that skater A should have lead weights tied to his skates. Others say skater B should have rockets attached to his. And in reality, we do that to a certain extent already. But do it too much and you take away the incentive to try to skate your best in the first place.
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Reply #21 Friday, February 22, 2002 10:26 AM