From: Mike '/m' 


How 'bout if they only did it once?   What then?

 /m


On Tue, 20 May 2003 10:45:17 -0400, "Robert Comer"
 wrote:

>>"A controversial Microsoft program offering discounts to win
>> business from lower-priced competitors has only been used twice in Europe
>> since July, the company's top lawyer said yesterday.
>
>Gak, just because they've only did it twice, the EU antitrust people
>shouldn't go after them.  VERY bad logic on their part.
>
>- Bob Comer
>
>
>
>"Joe Barr"  wrote in message
>news:pan.2003.05.20.14.37.51.300547{at}austin.rr.com...
>>
>>
>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14517-2003May20.html?nav=hptoc_
tn
>>
>> By Cynthia L. Webb
>> washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
>> Tuesday, May 20, 2003; 9:38 AM
>>
>> Microsoft's use of aggressive sales practices to defeat competition for
>> other operating systems, namely the open-source Linux platform, have put
>> the company in potential hot water again.
>>
>> Already under the microscope in Europe for alleged anticompetitive
>> behavior, the company's business practices have been criticized again
>> following a report in The International Herald Tribune last week detailing
>> internal company e-mails and memos that indicated Microsoft would offer
>> steep discounts to take business away from cheaper competitors, including
>> Linux.
>>
>> In a follow-up piece in The Seattle Times today, Microsoft does some
>> backpedaling. "A controversial Microsoft program offering
discounts to win
>> business from lower-priced competitors has only been used twice in Europe
>> since July, the company's top lawyer said yesterday. The revelation could
>> be part of an effort to mute calls for a new European Commission antitrust
>> investigation," the newspaper reported. "I have a great
deal of confidence
>> this program has not in any way inappropriate impact on commerce in the
>> European Union," Brad Smith, Microsoft senior vice president
and general
>> counsel, told The Seattle Times.
>>
>> --
>>
>

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