4 ms·

The lawsuit will take years while microsoft will make sure the litigants go bankrupt. Unfortunately there primary businesses are based on selling Microsoft Sof

by jlawer 15y ago

The lawsuit will take years while microsoft will make sure the litigants go bankrupt. Unfortunately there primary businesses are based on selling Microsoft Software Services, and while it would almost certainly result in Microsoft being fined eventually... I am pretty certain they will do the same thing in the 90s and just kill the vendors who are going after them. Raise a few SKU prices for that kind of market, make the companies unprofitable.

nknight 15y ago
You're very confused about how antitrust cases usually shape up, and how bankruptcy works. First, assuming a private antitrust lawsuit is brought against Microsoft by a company that then enters bankruptcy proceedings, it is very possible the case would continue long after the company ceases ordinary operations. A lawsuit doesn't become moot just because one party is "dead". Second, "the litigants" could ultimately end up including the US Department of Justice, various state attorneys general, the European Commission, and possibly other competition authorities around the world. These are entities with vast powers and resources, and the risk to Microsoft is potentially billions of dollars, if not its very existence.
- jlawer 15y ago
  Sure, I understand that it can happen... but at the end of the day who is the one still standing. Microsoft gets fined, the investors who stuck through the bankruptcy get paid... but the competitor is DEAD. Is it more expensive then buying a company... most likely, but it stops the entire market space moving forward. Microsoft knew they were violating anti-trust with the browser but they still did it. In doing so they delayed any move towards the "Networked computer" model that everyone was saying was the future. To protect the crown jewels (windows + office) I am pretty sure Microsoft will sacrifice it all to maintain that monopoly. Like Nero in Rome, they will let it burn.

by jlawer 15y ago

nknight 15y ago

You're very confused about how antitrust cases usually shape up, and how bankruptcy works. First, assuming a private antitrust lawsuit is brought against Microsoft by a company that then enters bankruptcy proceedings, it is very possible the case would continue long after the company ceases ordinary operations. A lawsuit doesn't become moot just because one party is "dead". Second, "the litigants" could ultimately end up including the US Department of Justice, various state attorneys general, the European Commission, and possibly other competition authorities around the world. These are entities with vast powers and resources, and the risk to Microsoft is potentially billions of dollars, if not its very existence.

jlawer 15y ago
Sure, I understand that it can happen... but at the end of the day who is the one still standing. Microsoft gets fined, the investors who stuck through the bankruptcy get paid... but the competitor is DEAD. Is it more expensive then buying a company... most likely, but it stops the entire market space moving forward. Microsoft knew they were violating anti-trust with the browser but they still did it. In doing so they delayed any move towards the "Networked computer" model that everyone was saying was the future. To protect the crown jewels (windows + office) I am pretty sure Microsoft will sacrifice it all to maintain that monopoly. Like Nero in Rome, they will let it burn.