Microsoft's new, anti-free-market lobbying

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

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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