2 ms·
Breaking up how? Splitting MS into Office and Windows creates two (functional) monopolies. Split it into Windows, Excel, Word, Powerpoint creates 4 monopolies.
by boxed 2y ago
Breaking up how? Splitting MS into Office and Windows creates two (functional) monopolies. Split it into Windows, Excel, Word, Powerpoint creates 4 monopolies.
Imo the only split that makes sense is to split it down the middle: TWO companies which BOTH have the rights to Excel. Half the engineers in each.
- vouaobrasil 2y agoThat is an interesting approach: Excel "Community Edition" and Excel "Old Microsoft Edition", and have them compete. Also, perhaps: after 20 years, software must be open-sourced.
- repelsteeltje 2y ago> Also, perhaps: after 20 years, software must be open-sourced. Wow! Wouldn't that be great?! Like as in an international constitutional kind of ground rule saying any software must ultimately become source-available after X years and becomes public domain after Y years. (Still plenty of wiggle room for monopolistic closed source, but at least it wouldn't be that way forever.)
- boxed 2y agoI was saying two competing closed source companies. Markets work best when they emulate nature: speciation, selection, competition. Successful companies should be split with all IP shared by the two daughter corporations.