Microsoft: Guilty or not?

[implexant]

This thread is a feeble attempt to combine past threads that never did really resolve the issue of whether or not Microsoft is guilty of being a monopoly. So... what are your thoughts?

-Chris

[Theophylact]

Of course. The courts all agree. The only question is whether they used their monopoly power in illegal restraint of trade -- that's what all the fighting's about.

Actually, I don't recall them being labeled a "monopoly" by the courts, however, I thought they were found guilty of engaging in some "monopolistic" business practices. Either way, I don't consider them a monopoly because although most people and business's choose MS, Microsoft is not the only option available.

[Theophylact]

The appeals court upheld part of Jackson's ruling that Microsoft violated the Sherman Act by "employing anticompetitive means to maintain a monopoly [my emphasis] in the operating system market," but it reversed his determination that the company violated the act by illegally attempting to monopolize the Internet browser market.

The Washington Post

Really, it's the opposite. Nobody cares if they're a monopoly, as long as they don't engage in monopolistic business practices.

By definition, it's not a monopoly unless it has exclusive control over a commodity, service, or activity.

Call MS what you want, but as long as other operating systems exist and people can uses them if they choose, MS does not have a monopoly on the OS market. Ditto for browsers.

[mdroth]

voted yes without even reading the subject and the vote is appropriate anyways.

[implexant]

if i remember correctly someone said that the courts did come to decision that MS is/was a monopoly. lemme dig up the link.

[EDIT] http://www.pff.org/POP_7.4.htm <--- heres the link
-Chris

[Theophylact]

By definition, it's not a monopoly unless it has exclusive control over a commodity, service, or activity.

Fingers, the Washington Post quote is from the Court's opinion. Go argue with them.

[Creatures]

i would say they're dumping with the XBox! but not a monopoly! Mac is still out there and linux! but they stole a lot of products! (did you know excel was a mac product ??)

Creatures

[cunokyle]

I do not think they are a monopoly...they do practice ins some controversial business policies, but that is being decided in the couts now. As creatures stateed and so have many others, there are other OS out there. By the definition of a monopoly that makes MS not a monopoly...Do they illegally use their power...maybe. Do they illegally keep other OS from gaining a place in the large market share...again, maybe. But, they have done what any business will do to protect its investment and to ensure that they are the first choice of the consumer. That is not illegal. Some of the practices my be, but that will be decided shortly. I support MS though I do not run Windows. I run Linux Mandrake and think it is a better product. But, it is not MS fault that the competition does not market their OS as well or inform the consumer of the advantages of having another OS. That is solely the respionsibility of the competition.
Go Bill Gates! I completely respect this man as he is a genius. He bought the Windows design for dirt cheap from Apple way back when and then kept buying software and adapting it to his OS that he was making better. There is nothing wrong with that. A great business man IMHO.