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Dec 23 - Jan 6, 2001 |
The power of Microsoft
Bill Gates takes advantage of penalty to monopolize schools
By Alessandro Cancian
Originally Published: 2001-12-02
I sincerely believe that in the Bush vs. Gore electoral riddle in Florida, the latter blundered in his choice of legal counsel. Had he followed Microsoft's example, things would have likely gone a different way. Judging from the most recent legal suits against the Redmond-based company and from the results achieved, one would be justified in thinking that the handsomely paid lawyers hired by Gates are undoubtedly the best. If not in defending him at least in bargaining for an out-of-court settlement.
Watching one of the round-table meetings between prosecution and defence lawyers searching for an agreement would be great entertainment. The most interesting part would be trying to understand what sort of magic lamp the Microsoft lawyers may be using.
No kidding. If one reads the recent settlements proposed in some of the most controversial cases in which the Redmond giant has been embroiled, the only possible explanation is that someone at the negotiating table is a gifted magician able to mesmerize opponents.
Following the embarrassing agreement with the DoJ by which Microsoft, admittedly guilty of monopolistic practices, came out with a simple slap on the wrist, the Microsoft illusionists were able to cut a deal that, if approved, would dismiss more than 100 pending suits alleging that Microsoft products were overpriced.
The unbelievable thing is that this new settlement is even better (for Microsoft, of course) than the one reached with the DoJ.
"Under the proposed settlement, Microsoft will provide more than $1 billion in cash, training, support, and software, to help make computer technology more accessible to public schools serving nearly seven million of America's most economically disadvantaged children."
"The program, if accepted by the Court, will provide cash, computer hardware, software, technical assistance, and training, to over 12,500 schools and more than 400,000 teachers who work in those schools."
These bits of humanitarian efforts are taken, for those among us who had any doubts, from a press release issued by the world's largest software house.
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