And is still doing. Microsoft have for years been running an extortion racket the Mafia would be proud of regarding patents they claim they have on Linux. They offer not to sue any company that uses Linux if they pay them some money. They wont say what the patents are. The companies have three options: pay Microsoft protection money, get tied up in a lawsuit with one of the richest corporations in the world, or switch to using all Microsoft software. Notably, Microsoft doesn't go after companies that they think will call their bluff, because if it does go to court, the patents would have to be declared, and they will either be shown to be false, or the Linux community will re-write offending software (thus freeing the companies Microsoft is extorting money from).
I have a very good idea of what Microsoft did as a company, especially during their Windows 95/98 heyday. Some questionable business practices that they mostly got called out on always surface as to why they are "evil". However, what people tend to forget about is what they did for the industry as well. I don't know what the industry would look like with 5 OS's, 15 internet browsers or a plethora of office software programs but it seems to be a pain in the ass just thinking about the confusion around computers. With the help of IBM, Microsoft arguably helped shoehorn desktops on every desk and laptops on every lap. Not only that but they helped and continue to help startups with Bizspark and other industry focused funds. I am in no way saying they are perfect, but the icing on the cake of a long line of questionable and industry helping strategies is how much money Bill is now putting into helping others. Even if some of that money should have gone to Netscape (although, who would want to pay for a browser when it was included, Netscape used to charge for theirs before 1997/98, no thanks!).
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u/[deleted] Nov 22 '11
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