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From: jwhitnel@csi.UUCP (Jerry Whitnell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: The Lawsuit, Standardization, and Whiny DOS Users...
Message-ID: <1494@csib.csi.UUCP>
Date: 3 May 88 20:05:11 GMT
References: <8685@eleazar.Dartmouth.EDU> <5823@well.UUCP> <10600@steinmetz.ge.com> <5836@well.UUCP> <8807@eleazar.Dartmouth.EDU>
Reply-To: jwhitnel@csib.UUCP (Jerry Whitnell)
Organization: Communications Solutions Inc., San Jose, Ca
Lines: 35

In article <8807@eleazar.Dartmouth.EDU> merchant@eleazar.Dartmouth.EDU (Peter Merchant) writes:
>In article <5836@well.UUCP>, L. Brett Glass writes:
>> [...] For me, the important thing is that I have
>> an architecture which is multiple-sourced, reasonably priced,
>> able to run the largest base of professional software in the
>> world, and not made by a company which uses litigation as a
>> "competitive" tactic -- and thus hurts the microcomputer community
>> as a whole) when it is no longer able to keep up with the pack
>> through innovation.
>
>IBM doesn't use litigation as a competitive tactic.  They use FEAR of
>litigation as a competitive tactic.  Note that Dell and Tandy have LICENSED
>the use of Micro-Channel Architecture (MCA) from IBM, because IBM has
>threatened to sue anyone who sells one without getting it licensed.  They've
>also threatened to sue anyone who creates as PS/2 clone without their
>permission.

They also used this tactic against the first round of PC clone makers,
driving at least one (Eagle) out of business.  The company I worked for
at the time took a major hit and eventually went out of business because
of the money lost from parts we sold to Eagle.  So anyone who claims
that IBM has never hurt the microcomputer community doesn't know anything
about the history of the industry.  Compaq was
the only clone maker that survived of the original batch of clone
makers, mostly due to IBM's threats of litigation.

>
>IBM is not famous for it's love of free market competition.

Who do you think invented FUD (Fear, Uncerntainty and Doubt)?

>"Grab it like you want it..."         Peter Merchant (merchant@eleazar.UUCP)

Jerry Whitnell				Been through Hell?
Communication Solutions, Inc.		What did you bring back for me?
						- A. Brilliant