Congress: Clear the Air and Stop Preloads
Consumer consumption determines the health of the US Economy. Some of us would prefer a return to manufacturing, distribution, exports and technological innovations. But poor decisions in the past have painted us into this corner. As consumers, we need more information about the products we buy. Today, for example, we know about the employee discounts for most automobile manaufacturers. We know a lot more about the availability of generic drugs versus name brand drugs whose patents have run out. Now, we believe we need to know more about the computer systems offered to us in stores and off web sites. So, we believe consumer advocates should lobby for a small set of simple requests with regard to the US computer industry as it affects consumers. The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday took the unusual step of sharply criticizing a decision by Korea’s Fair Trade Commission to fine Microsoft W33 billion (US$33 million) in an antitrust case, which it said went “beyond what is necessary or appropriate.” We're also concerned about the Administration's attempts to convince the European Union to back off on Microsoft. 2. We ask Congress to evaluate the administration's role with regard to Microsoft's monopoly. Our reference here relates to the fact that Microsoft and the Department of Justice reached settlements in which a District Court objected:
We wonder why the Department of Justice and Microsoft jointly appealed the Court's decision. 3. We ask Congress and the President to prohibit Microsoft preloading agreements. We feel that as long as Microsoft maintains their preloading agreements with Original Equipment Manufacturers, no one can break the Redmond Company's grip on the computer market. We believe it maintains an unfair monopoly restraining trade. While we can see the power of preloading an operating system today, we didn't think much about it in 1992. Today, 95% of the people who own computers use what comes on their PCs. 4. We ask for Congress to perform a comprehensive review of Microsoft's political activities including and starting with the House Ethics committee's failure to investigate the links between Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, Preston Gates &Ellis and the BSA. Recognizing that the Chairman of the House Ethics Committee represents Redmond, Washington, we wonder if he is so disposed as to keeping potential wrong doing from disclosure. We have knowledge of the Gates foundation contributing to the foundation Tom DeLay allegedly used to launder contributions to other candidates. 5. We request Congress to enact laws requiring Original Equipment Manufacturers to disclose their policies with regard to selling Microsoft products. We don't know what agreements exist today because disclosure goes beyond the scope of the US Government's enforcement of their agreement with Microsoft. Everything is done in secret without public disclosure. 6. We ask for schedules of payments to and from Microsoft and OEMs be disclosed immediately to the public so we can ascertain the influence exerted on consumers buying computers and computer related products. We simply want to know if Microsoft's monopoly position results in funds going back and forth between OEM's and Microsoft. For example, does Microsoft reward OEM's for recommending Microsoft XP? When Congress returns to work in January, we want these questions put on the Congressional agenda. We also request these questions be considered priorities. Related Story: Superior Linux Technology not Stopping Microsoft - Time to Call Uncle Sam |
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Subject | Topic Starter | Replies | Views | Last Post |
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Whatever happened to four missing threads? | mvermeer | 6 | 3,340 | Dec 19, 2005 11:57 AM |
Preloading is unstoppable! | sxf | 4 | 3,324 | Dec 19, 2005 10:47 AM |
Unusual Influence | bigpicture | 0 | 2,872 | Dec 17, 2005 12:58 PM |
Swinging the pendulum | pendraco | 9 | 3,517 | Dec 17, 2005 5:34 AM |
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