From: dluxford@symantec.com (David Luxford)
Subject: Let's Break Up Microsoft!
Date: 1995/06/19
Message-ID: <dluxford.89.2FE5EDD2@symantec.com>#1/1
organization: Symantec
newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy


After reading all these posts on "Let's do something about MS", I suggest that 
we break up Microsoft.  Reasons for doing these include, but are not limited 
to:
	1) Anti-Trade practicies forcing OEMs to pay for licenses of DOS/Win on all 
machines shipped, regardless of whether DOS/Win is on them
	2) Building incompatibilities or False warnings into their products, when you 
are using a competitor product (e.g., MS DOS vs. DR DOS)
	3) Using undocumented APIs to gain a competitive advantage

I suggest, to start things off, MS be broken up into 1 company for the 
Windows/DOS/NT/95 operating systems, 1 company for each other product (Word, 
Excel, etc.) - or mabye 1 company for every 2 products, and the following 
restrictions:
	1) No former MS company may enter into a joint marketing agreement
	2) All companies must move into their own, separate buildings at least 1/4 
mile away from any other company
	3) Each company is a self-contained whole - shares no employees, equipment, 
or resources with any other former MS company.
	4) The Microsoft Umbrella Corp is completely dissolved.
	5) The Microsoft Umbrella Corp must pay restitution to it's competitors 
and/or OEMs hurt by their illegal licensing agreements (to be determined by a 
court of law)
	6) No former Microsoft company may merge with another or otherwise 
cooperate in the development/design of products in any way.
	7) No former Microsoft company may enter into the sorts of illegal bundling 
agreements as they formerly did.
	8) No former MS company may continue to use *any* undocumented API OR all 
undocumented APIs must be documented.
	9) Microsoft must remove any incompatibilities, bugs, etc. that target non-MS 
clone competitors (e.g., Digital Research DOS).

These restrictions would stay in place unconditionally for the first 5
years; after that, MS *may* be allowed to appeal 1 or 2.  For those who 
believe MS is blameless, consider this:  these component companies still have 
marketshare, and if they really are good at what they do they will be 
successful.  In any case, this will level the playing field of the marketplace 
and give the consumer his/her choice.