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

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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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