Re: DOJ asked to stop MS monopolization of browser market

James Love forwarded a message about complaints re MS's monopolistic practices with regard to browser technology.

The main thrust was the following paragraph:

>


>        Microsoft should not be permitted to drive 

>        Netscape and other products out of the market 

>        by offering the Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) 

>        for free; and Microsoft should not be permitted to 

>        bundle the MSIE with its operating system, or 

>        integrate the MSIE with the operating system in ways 

>        that are unavailable to other firms.

 
While I agree with the desirability of supporting competitor browsers,
and the unwelcome consequences of handing control of standards to MS
(who have demonstrated an inability to design good standards or even to
conform to those designed by others), I'm not sure that preventing a
browser from being integrated into the operating system is either
realistic or desirable. 

Integrating a browser into the OS is a really good idea, not just for MS to extend their monopolies but because it empowers the OS to interact with information and networks in a seamless fashion. The stand-alone browser is already a relic. Even Netscape are integrating editing, email, news services and a host of other related functionalities into their `browser'. Netscape doesn't produce a stand-alone browser anymore so why should we try and force MS to? The merging of OS and middleware has been predicted for many years and is finally being realised.

The battle is still worth fighting so that MS can be seen to have some wins but this particular battle is bound to lose eventually if not immediately.

The real problem is MS's OS monopoly, not the fact that it wants to extend that monopoly. We need to find ways of breaking that monopoly rather than simply trying to prevent or slow inevitable extensions of the monopoly.

Tim Arnold-Moore, LL.B. (Melb)        | Multimedia Database Systems, RMIT  |
tja[_at_]mds.rmit.edu.au  B.Sc.(Hons Melb) | 723 Swanston St    -----------------
Tel: +61 3 9282 2487   Fax: ..2490    | Carlton 3053       |  simul iustus 
    http://www.mds.rmit.edu.au/People/Tja/tja.html         |   et peccator