Judge orders Microsoft’s Gates to testify

Iria · Nov 3, 2006, 08:05 PM

Source: MSNBC
________
DES MOINES, Iowa - A district court judge in Iowa has ordered Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer to testify in person at a trial in Iowa later this month.

The company is facing a class-action antitrust lawsuit, which seeks up to $450 million for Iowans who have purchased the software maker’s products since 1994. The case claims anticompetitive practices by Microsoft caused consumers to pay more for its products that they would have otherwise.

**temeteus82** · Nov 3, 2006, 08:13 PM

WoooT M$ is going down in Iowa?!?!?!?

BWX · Nov 4, 2006, 09:56 AM

Monopolies are great for people.

**temeteus82** · Nov 4, 2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWX

Monopolies are great for people.

That's why EU is fighting against monopolies

BlueMak · Nov 4, 2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWX

Monopolies are great for people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

That's why EU is fighting against monopolies

Stupid EU!

**temeteus82** · Nov 4, 2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

The company is facing a class-action antitrust lawsuit, which seeks up to $450 million for Iowans who have purchased the software maker’s products since 1994. The case claims anticompetitive practices by Microsoft caused consumers to pay more for its products that they would have otherwise.

That's why EU gives MS hard time!

TheBlackCat · Nov 4, 2006, 04:42 PM

I haven't seen any evidence Microsoft is a monopoly. Sure they have a large portion of the market, almost all of it, but that doesn't make them a monopoly. You could theoretically control all of the market without being a monopoly, or control only a tiny portion and still be a monopoly. Companies seem to be punished merely for being too successful. If a company gets too successful, often due to competitors being stupid, suddenly they get sued. It is just another manifestation of the lawsuit culture of today's society. Companies are no longer responsible for being failures, they can just sue companies that are more successful, often forcing massive burdens on the more successful company while turning around and talking about all the benefits their company's product offers while neglecting to mention that the only reason they have those benefits is because their competitor is legally not allowed to offer those features.

It pisses me off. Yeah., microsoft is successful. That is because microsoft has been smart, apple has been stupid, and linux came too late in the game to make a difference this quickly. Get over it. It is not a crime for a company to be successful. It is not a crime for a company to make a produc that everybody wants. It is not a crime for a company to be smart while their competitors are being idiots.

Yes, if they had a true monopoly then that would be another story entirely. But merely being successful does not mean you are a monopoly. Monopolies have price-setting power. They are not controlled by the conditions of the market like most companies. Unless someone shows that microsoft has price-setting power than no one has shown they are a monopoly.

technonerd · Nov 4, 2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlackCat

I haven't seen any evidence Microsoft is a monopoly. Sure they have a large portion of the market, almost all of it, but that doesn't make them a monopoly. You could theoretically control all of the market without being a monopoly, or control only a tiny portion and still be a monopoly. Companies seem to be punished merely for being too successful. If a company gets too successful, often due to competitors being stupid, suddenly they get sued. It is just another manifestation of the lawsuit culture of today's society. Companies are no longer responsible for being failures, they can just sue companies that are more successful, often forcing massive burdens on the more successful company while turning around and talking about all the benefits their company's product offers while neglecting to mention that the only reason they have those benefits is because their competitor is legally not allowed to offer those features.

It pisses me off. Yeah., microsoft is successful. That is because microsoft has been smart, apple has been stupid, and linux came too late in the game to make a difference this quickly. Get over it. It is not a crime for a company to be successful. It is not a crime for a company to make a produc that everybody wants. It is not a crime for a company to be smart while their competitors are being idiots.

Yes, if they had a true monopoly then that would be another story entirely. But merely being successful does not mean you are a monopoly. Monopolies have price-setting power. They are not controlled by the conditions of the market like most companies. Unless someone shows that microsoft has price-setting power than no one has shown they are a monopoly.

Good stuff right there.

Beside 450 million dollar is like a penny to them and they're wasting time for a stupid reason. If you think it's too expensive, then don't buy it and use Linux or whatever. I'm glad I paid 300 bux for windows xp pro, treated me really good and I will buy Vista when Service pack 1 or 2 release. Service pack may release in a year or so, the price of the system would be cheaper by then.

SFOSOK · Nov 4, 2006, 08:43 PM

If you can make a better os then do so.

Mazuko · Nov 4, 2006, 10:13 PM

Ah...to see our nation going through yet another variation of the "Industrial Revolution" is entertaining to me. History it yet again repeating itself with the government trying to abolish monopolies, the people fighting for higher wages and better working conditions....any one else see the similarities?

BWX · Nov 4, 2006, 10:29 PM

anticompetitive laws exist for a reason..

Nov 3, 2006, 08:05 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Judge orders Microsoft’s Gates to testify Source: MSNBC ________ DES MOINES, Iowa - A district court judge in Iowa has ordered Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer to testify in person at a trial in Iowa later this month. The company is facing a class-action antitrust lawsuit, which seeks up to $450 million for Iowans who have purchased the software maker’s products since 1994. The case claims anticompetitive practices by Microsoft caused consumers to pay more for its products that they would have otherwise.

Nov 4, 2006, 04:42 PM	#7
TheBlackCat DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Searching for the Candle in the Dark Posts: 567 Rep Power: 0	I haven't seen any evidence Microsoft is a monopoly. Sure they have a large portion of the market, almost all of it, but that doesn't make them a monopoly. You could theoretically control all of the market without being a monopoly, or control only a tiny portion and still be a monopoly. Companies seem to be punished merely for being too successful. If a company gets too successful, often due to competitors being stupid, suddenly they get sued. It is just another manifestation of the lawsuit culture of today's society. Companies are no longer responsible for being failures, they can just sue companies that are more successful, often forcing massive burdens on the more successful company while turning around and talking about all the benefits their company's product offers while neglecting to mention that the only reason they have those benefits is because their competitor is legally not allowed to offer those features. It pisses me off. Yeah., microsoft is successful. That is because microsoft has been smart, apple has been stupid, and linux came too late in the game to make a difference this quickly. Get over it. It is not a crime for a company to be successful. It is not a crime for a company to make a produc that everybody wants. It is not a crime for a company to be smart while their competitors are being idiots. Yes, if they had a true monopoly then that would be another story entirely. But merely being successful does not mean you are a monopoly. Monopolies have price-setting power. They are not controlled by the conditions of the market like most companies. Unless someone shows that microsoft has price-setting power than no one has shown they are a monopoly. __________________ [color=#000000]There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible and wrong.[/color] -H. L. Mencken

Nov 4, 2006, 08:43 PM	#9
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	If you can make a better os then do so. __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

Nov 4, 2006, 10:13 PM	#10
Mazuko DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1,008 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Ah...to see our nation going through yet another variation of the "Industrial Revolution" is entertaining to me. History it yet again repeating itself with the government trying to abolish monopolies, the people fighting for higher wages and better working conditions....any one else see the similarities? __________________ E-bay feedback: http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...me=STRK:ME:UFS

Nov 4, 2006, 09:56 AM	#3
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Monopolies are great for people.

Nov 4, 2006, 10:29 PM	#11
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	anticompetitive laws exist for a reason..