Comments on: Microsoft Discovers The Virtues of Anti-Trust Law http://danweinreb.org/blog/microsoft-discovers-the-virtues-of-anti-trust-law Software and Innovation Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:13:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan Weinreb http://danweinreb.org/blog/microsoft-discovers-the-virtues-of-anti-trust-law/comment-page-1#comment-33585 Dan Weinreb Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:33:04 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=218#comment-33585 @Mike H: I disagree with your overall point. The only way to maintain a free market, that's in the public interest, is if everybody follows a reasonable set of rules. I don't have any strong opinion about the particular issue here with Google, but I think it's important for the anti-trust division to keep the market free and fair. Anti-trust laws have to be applied carefully; the issues can be complicated; the laws need to keep up with changing facts on the ground; and the Justice Department is not infallible. But the ideal state of things would not be for there to be no anti-trust laws at all. @Mike H: I disagree with your overall point. The only way to maintain a free market, that’s in the public interest, is if everybody follows a reasonable set of rules. I don’t have any strong opinion about the particular issue here with Google, but I think it’s important for the anti-trust division to keep the market free and fair. Anti-trust laws have to be applied carefully; the issues can be complicated; the laws need to keep up with changing facts on the ground; and the Justice Department is not infallible. But the ideal state of things would not be for there to be no anti-trust laws at all.

]]> By: Mike H http://danweinreb.org/blog/microsoft-discovers-the-virtues-of-anti-trust-law/comment-page-1#comment-33579 Mike H Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:22:02 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=218#comment-33579 I agree with Pepe. MS learned during that period how to deal with the government, and now they are playing by those same rules. I do agree that MS is wrong to use these laws to its advantage, but only because anti-trust laws are unjust and wrong to begin with. And MS is not a single-minded, individual with an idealogical mission for the free market (I am) - it's a large group, that I'm sure was radically changed (corrupted) by the anti-trust case. What effect will a few years of Christine Varney have on Google? The government should not have this power over the free market, it corrupts both sides. I agree with Pepe. MS learned during that period how to deal with the government, and now they are playing by those same rules. I do agree that MS is wrong to use these laws to its advantage, but only because anti-trust laws are unjust and wrong to begin with. And MS is not a single-minded, individual with an idealogical mission for the free market (I am) – it’s a large group, that I’m sure was radically changed (corrupted) by the anti-trust case. What effect will a few years of Christine Varney have on Google? The government should not have this power over the free market, it corrupts both sides.

]]> By: Dan Weinreb http://danweinreb.org/blog/microsoft-discovers-the-virtues-of-anti-trust-law/comment-page-1#comment-33570 Dan Weinreb Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:45:52 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=218#comment-33570 It's hypocrisy because Microsoft not only denied the antitrust charges, but fundamentally denied the whole idea. They lied in Federal Court! They did their best to break the law. And now, having spit in the face of the Justice Dept, they come back asking for help. It’s hypocrisy because Microsoft not only denied the antitrust charges, but fundamentally denied the whole idea. They lied in Federal Court! They did their best to break the law. And now, having spit in the face of the Justice Dept, they come back asking for help.

]]> By: Pepe http://danweinreb.org/blog/microsoft-discovers-the-virtues-of-anti-trust-law/comment-page-1#comment-33537 Pepe Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:50:36 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=218#comment-33537 How is this "hypocrisy" on Microsoft's part? People came after them for antitrust stuff, so now they should be prohibited from doing the same when the tables are turned? Your argument makes zero sense. It's more hypocrisy on Google's part, if anything. They've complained about monopolistic practices in the past, and now they're guilty of the same behavior. And, depending on which side the "tech media and blogs" take, it'll be hypocrisy on their part too, if they say "When Microsoft did it it is was bad, but for Google it's no problem at all." How is this “hypocrisy” on Microsoft’s part? People came after them for antitrust stuff, so now they should be prohibited from doing the same when the tables are turned? Your argument makes zero sense.

It’s more hypocrisy on Google’s part, if anything. They’ve complained about monopolistic practices in the past, and now they’re guilty of the same behavior. And, depending on which side the “tech media and blogs” take, it’ll be hypocrisy on their part too, if they say “When Microsoft did it it is was bad, but for Google it’s no problem at all.”

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