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August 2, 1999 -

10:48 AM PDT - Microsoft continues to violate the law in order to disadvantage competitors?

This time it is Piracy.

Just this last week Microsoft adopted a new plan to illegally disadvantage a competitor. AOL bought Netscape a while back but Microsoft Corporation continues to adopt illegal methods to preclude competition. AOL has made it very clear that access to its messenger service is limited to authorized users and authorized clients. It is a free service. But, IM brings AOL revenue in the form of payment for advertisements displayed while the user benefits from the service.

Obviously Microsoft Corporation does not want any company other than itself to offer any services to consumers so it has engaged in a program to pirate the AOL IM service. Microsoft Corporation has officially approved of hacking methods to attack competitors of Microsoft. Microsoft wants to steal the AOL IM service and further deprive AOL of a revenue source. This is the same plan it illegally adopted for Netscape.

Is this theft, conversion (a civil theft) or even a violation of federal law by using the telephone system to carry out theft?

Well. It may very well be and Microsoft Corporation does not seem to care. And, anyone who agrees that Microsoft's acts are illegal or violate the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the DOJ and other appropriate authorities and request an investigation and evaluation. I have done so. I also suspect that the antitrust trial may be re-opened for additional testimony regarding this most recent effort by Microsoft Corporation to cause direct harm to a competitor. It would be abnormal to re-open testimony for this trial, but Microsoft has continued to adopt new methods to preclude competition. And, attempting to hack into the AOL service is relevant to the charges currently being considered by the court. What is absolutely obvious is that Microsoft Corporation will exersize no self restraint and will only do what a court of law orders it to do specifically. Otherwise, it will just ignore all laws and do whatever it can to preclude competition or lessen the ability of competitors to provide services to consumers. Microsoft Corporation insults consumers by their acts.

Up until this time I have supported Microsoft in its effort to prevent the piracy of their property. However, since Microsoft Corporation has itself choosen to use unauthorized means to steal the property of another company, that support has ceased. I do not advocate the piracy of Microsoft products but whenever Microsoft acts to protect its property against theft by others, I will remind the public that Microsoft itself uses the same or similar methods to profit from the products and services of others.

What is really strange is the number of Microsoft supporters who publicly suggest that it is okay for Microsoft to steal the property of competitors. I find that absolutely amazing. Some even think the solution here is to publicly attack me.

Microsoft Corporation has proven in public that it is a corrupt company. And, they apparently support anyone willing to publicly attack a critic of Microsoft Corporation. I guess the censorship of critics on their own so-called public forums is just not enough.

Home - Lewis A. Mettler, Esq.