FC: Weekly column: Microsoft's new, anti-free-market lobbying

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Mon Jun 30 2003 - 22:02:32 PDT

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    http://news.com.com/2010-1071_3-1021938.html
    
        Microsoft's new push in Washington
        By Declan McCullagh
        June 30, 2003, 4:00 AM PT
    
        At the height of the U.S. government's antitrust pursuit of Microsoft,
        Bill Gates and his execs were vigorously denouncing rivals Sun
        Microsystems and Oracle for using the feds to try to cripple the
        world's largest software company.
    
        For a while, it sounded like Gates was channeling capitalist doyenne
        Ayn Rand, saying in 1998 that the technology industry's successes were
        due to lack of interference from Uncle Sam, and claiming that "the
        government is still trying to slow Microsoft down."
    
        Microsoft even launched a Web site, FreeToInnovate.com, through which
        you could send a note to your member of Congress, sign up for a
        get-your-hands-off-our-software newsletter or order "Freedom to
        Innovate" ceramic mugs and T-shirts.
    
        Well, that was then. Now Microsoft has given new marching orders to
        its phalanx of lobbyists: Use the government to seek a competitive
        advantage in the marketplace.
    
        Hypocritical? Perhaps. Randian? Hardly. But all in all, entirely
        unsurprising. While the old Microsoft would have been appalled, this
        is becoming the standard way of doing business in Washington for the
        new Microsoft. In fact, though the software giant may learn slowly, it
        learns its lessons exceedingly well.
    
        Some background on what's going on: Microsoft and some large Web site
        operators like Yahoo, Amazon.com and eBay have been trying to pressure
        the Federal Communications Commission to impose additional regulations
        on the cable industry. They're waving the marketing slogan of "Net
        neutrality" and warning that the cable companies could start to favor
        some Web sites over others or even block access entirely.
    
        Be skeptical of this flimsy claim. There is no evidence that any
        company offering cable modem access does this--or, for that matter,
        ever will. At the very least, the prospective wrongdoer should become
        a real threat before the FCC gets involved.
    
        [...remainder snipped...]
    
    
    
    
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