Re: Microsoft needs a help strategy

[Rjack]

amicus_curious wrote:
> "Rjack" <user@example.net> wrote in message 
> bumdnUH8Ov-23ebUnZ2dnUVZ_uydnZ2d@giganews.com">news:bumdnUH8Ov-23ebUnZ2dnUVZ_uydnZ2d@giganews.com...
> > With the advent of the Obama administration, it is generally
> > expected that the Justice Department and the FTC will become much
> > more aggressive in antitrust enforcement matters.
> >
> > With Microsoft's OS share hovering around 90%,
> >
> > http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=8
> >
> > how can Microsoft best subtly assist OSX and Linux in order to
> > avert antitrust prosecutions under the new administration that will
> > resemble those in the EU?
> I think that the Obama administration is more likely to consider the 
> adverse effect of such silly prosecution on the overall economy.  
> Consider that Microsoft is a large company that generates more than 60B 
> worth of revenue per year.  Why would the Obama administration try to 
> hold them in check? Why would they favor replacing that 60B company with 
> a collection of open sourcerers who rely on trade in kind and are 
> adverse to such levels of profits?  Would destroying Microsoft help the 
> economy?  I don't think so and I doubt that Obama's advisors are going 
> to recommend that course of action.
>
> Microsoft has absorbed the EU fines with ease since their prices in the 
> EU are significantly higher than elsewhere in the world.  They will stay 
> in the EU as long as it is profitable to do so and so far it has been.

Statement of Senator Barack Obama for the American Antitrust Institute

http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/archives/files/aai-%20Presidential%20campaign%20-%20Obama%209-07_092720071759.pdf

...
...
"Regrettably, the current administration has what may be the weakest
record of antitrust enforcement of any administration in the last
half century. Between 1996 and 2000, the FTC and DOJ together
challenged on average more than 70 mergers per year on the grounds
that they would harm consumer welfare. In contrast, between 2001 and
2006,the FTC and DOJ on average only challenged 33. And in seven
years, the Bush Justice Department has not brought a single
monopolization case."

Sincerely,
Rjack :)