Is Microsoft a product of the state?

[Anarchist420]

Wanted to have an honest discussion on this.

They apply for patents, and have many of them. Patents can create big business.

On the other hand, the government has gone after them for anti-trust violations and they pay a lot of corporate tax, I'm sure. Is there anything else that I'm missing?

I don't know for sure about Microsoft, like I do about Big Pharma, so I wanted to know what other people thought.

Don't get me wrong, I love Microsoft, and Steve Ballmer is pretty damn cool, plus they do a lot of good for the community, I just suspect they wouldn't be as big if it weren't for patent laws. People could always make a generic windows and sell it for less.

 

[Genx87]

Wanted to have an honest discussion on this.

They apply for patents, and have many of them. Patents can create big business.

On the other hand, the government has gone after them for anti-trust violations and they pay a lot of corporate tax, I'm sure. Is there anything else that I'm missing?

I don't know for sure about Microsoft, like I do about Big Pharma, so I wanted to know what other people thought.

Don't get me wrong, I love Microsoft, and Steve Ballmer is pretty damn cool, plus they do a lot of good for the community, I just suspect they wouldn't be as big if it weren't for patent laws. People could always make a generic windows and sell it for less.

They do, it is called Linux and accounts for like 1% of the desktop market.

That said I dont see how applying for patents and utilizing copyright law makes one a product of the state.

 

[Tom]

patent laws protect private property, the ownership of which is one of the tenents of capitalism.

 

[AzN]

Of course it's product of the state. The state can take away your house if they feel like it.

 

[Anarchist420]

They do, it is called Linux and accounts for like 1% of the desktop market.

That said I dont see how applying for patents and utilizing copyright law makes one a product of the state.

Is linux windows-compatible?

 

[First]

Oh come on, please tell me you're a parody poster. Is MS a product of the state because it files for patents? Is Linux itself Windows-compatible? These have to be prank questions.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Come on people. notice the OPs name ANARCHIST420.
Everything to him is a ploy by the government.
OP, so because one follows the rules and laws of ones society they are a product of the State?

Your analogy of MS is like saying someone is a product of the state because they have a drivers license and follow the laws governing driving on the roads.

 

[nonlnear]

We need an ignore thread option.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Oh come on, please tell me you're a parody poster. Is MS a product of the state because it files for patents? Is Linux itself Windows-compatible? These have to be prank questions.

I believe his questions fairly reflect Anarchist's general level of knowledge and reasoning.

As for his assertion that the government has "gone after" Microsoft, it's a difficult case to make when each and every anti-trust violation ends with no fine and a "Consent Decree" promise not to break the law in quite the same way again...

 

[dfuze]

Linux isn't Windows compatible, but you can use WINE to run some Windows programs, not to mention there are many available Linux based free versions of the same programs (ie Openoffice) also

We need an ignore thread option.

I think there is one in the User CP

 

[dfuze]

Rereading your inital post... regarding patents, if MS does the research and comes up with items to patent, why wouldn't they get the patent? Are you saying they should spend the $$ on research and let someone else get the patent because they have too many already?

 

[nonlnear]

I think there is one in the User CP

I know there is an ignore user option (which I am loath to use). That's not what I'm looking for. Ignoring threads would be much more useful to me than ignoring posts. A quick skim through the forum suggestion box seems to indicate that it's not available and might not be possible...

 

[JEDIYoda]

Is linux windows-compatible?

does it matter??

 

[JEDIYoda]

You need to forgive Anarchist420, Jr High schools out and he has way to much free time!!

 

[Genx87]

Is linux windows-compatible?

You didnt say Windows compatible, only generic Windows. Windows implies a gui OS. Linux is a GUI Windowsesque OS that is generic.

 

[waggy]

patent laws protect private property, the ownership of which is one of the tenents of capitalism.

your home is private property and the state can take it whenever they need it or want it. hell they can take it to give to another private company.

sure MS is a business. but that won't stop the government from taking it if its "to big to fail" or for "the public good".

 

[GTaudiophile]

Just as much as Google is a front for the CIA...

 

[waggy]

Just as much as Google is a front for the CIA...

i thought you were just making a joke. then i did a search..wow. not sure what to make of that. Though you would think if google was a font a search results would be titled something like "is google a font of cia? hahah no!" or such.

whatever but that is kinda weird and scary if it was.

 

[JockoJohnson]

So, are car companies a product of the state? I want Ford parts to work in a Mercedes or BMW so I have a lower total cost of ownership on that car.

How is that different than all Windows applications working in Linux?

 

[Theb]

The state can take away your house if they feel like it.

Indeed.

 

[ElFenix]

your home is private property and the state can take it whenever they need it or want it. hell they can take it to give to another private company.

sure MS is a business. but that won't stop the government from taking it if its "to big to fail" or for "the public good".

they can take patents too. during WWI the government nationalized all patents on the airplane.

 

[Saga]

This newbie asks a lot of really stupid questions.

 

[waggy]

they can take patents too. during WWI the government nationalized all patents on the airplane.

no shit? i didn't know that. wouldn't have a link on it or a suggestion on a good book?

I enjoy stuff on WWII but haven't read much on WWI

 

[Tom]

your home is private property and the state can take it whenever they need it or want it. hell they can take it to give to another private company.

sure MS is a business. but that won't stop the government from taking it if its "to big to fail" or for "the public good".

they have to compensate you for taking it so in theory your property rights are protected. not arging it works or is a good policy but it isn't state ownership.

 

[bfdd]

Of course it's product of the state. The state can take away your house if they feel like it.

lol the last time the state tried to take something from MS they threatened to relocate their business out of the country and the USA said "OMFG NO SRY SRY SRY" yeah the gubment isn't going to be bullying MS soon.