IP: Re: perhaps a better explanation why Bush's DOJ bent over for Microsoft

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: "Gerry Faulhaber" <gerry-faulhaber () home com>
> To: <farber () cis upenn edu>
> Subject: Re: perhaps a better explanation why Bush's DOJ bent over 
> for  Microsoft
> Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 17:46:30 -0400
> X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400
>
>
> Well, not quite.  The author states that the government is "vacating the
> lawsuit."  This is actually false; it is no longer pursuing the breakup
> remedy.  In the humble opinion of this economist, the breakkup was a
> non-solution anyway, so I don't think we've lost much here, and probably
> dodged a bullet.  The government has been clear that it intends to pursue
> conduct remedies; this is always risky, but I see few other options for the
> government in this case.
>
> Also, "introduced the computer industry to Washington politics"?  Puh-leeze!
> The computer industry has been greased into DC for years; how do you think
> all us nerds got the government to fund Internet?  And recall it was Scott
> McNealy and fellow-SV schmoozers who interested DoJ in bringing the MS case
> to begin with.  The rube in this case was Microsoft, not the computer or
> software industry; Gates was the guy with the two left political feet,
> nobody else.  But they are smart guys; they'll figure out how to play the
> game eventually.
>
> Gerald Faulhaber
> Business and Public Policy Department
> Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
> Philadephia, PA 19104



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