[luau] NEWS: MS exec argues for right to break rivals' software

[Warren Togami]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/25042.html
MS exec argues for right to break rivals' software

One of the exhibits in the previous stages of the Microsoft antitrust trial
included an email from one Chris Jones, recommending to Bill Gates that the
binding of IE into Windows should be such that users would find running
rival browsers "a jolting experience." At the time many people, not least of
them the Department of Justice, seemed to think that this and other
associated exhibits were all about the anticompetitive tying of IE into
Windows in order to destroy Netscape. But apparently not - MS Windows exec
Chris, taking the stand yesterday, put forward an explanation of almost
patentable novelty.

What he meant, he said, was that the experience would be jolting for good
reasons if it occurred because of the "great innovations" that integration
of IE brought to Windows. So presumably you could think about the new
versions of IE Microsoft was designing as being truly wondrous, and that
users would therefore find use of the comparatively stone age rival products
truly unpleasant.
(continued in article)