'[DMCA_discuss] Call to Action: Comments on MS Settlement'

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       dmca-discuss
Subject:    [DMCA_discuss] Call to Action: Comments on MS Settlement
From:       Seth Johnson <seth.johnson () realmeasures ! dyndns ! org>
Date:       2002-01-23 15:33:13
[Download RAW message or body]

(Jeremy White requests public comments on the Microsoft
settlement.  Note forwarded from the DotGNU Developers
list.  Full web site text is pasted below.  -- Seth)

Excerpts:

The Department of Justice and Microsoft have reached a
tentative settlement of the United States vs. Microsoft
antitrust lawsuit. It is widely believed that the proposed
settlement does a very poor job and that it is critical that
those of us who feel this way participate in the Tunney Act
comment process. 

Under a law known as the Tunney Act, the court is required
to consider public commentary before accepting any
settlement. 

[and]

The truly easy way to at least add your voice:

  1.Send email to microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov (with a subject of
'Microsoft Settlement') saying that you think the proposed
settlement is bad idea (type only 3 words, if you must).
What counts is the number of complaints. 
  2.Send email to petition@kegel.com indicating that you
will stand as a co signer of Dan Kegel's comments. Please
give your city, state, title, and affiliation. 

(Full text below)

-------- Original Message --------
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 05:57:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Bill Lance <rrotifer@yahoo.com>

a bit OT for DotGNU, but extreamlky important for FS?OS
developers and supporters. 

Please, PLEASE, send an e-mail if you are a US citizen.

Pack their mail box.  You can be sure the MS is doing it.

http://www.codeweavers.com/~jwhite/tunney.html

A Call to Action/Confession of Shame

Introduction

My name is Jeremy White, and I am the CEO of CodeWeavers,
the company most associated with the Wine project. Three
years ago, I chose to refocus my company around the Wine
project because I believed that Microsoft's stranglehold on
the market was sucking all of the joy out of the computing
field.

For those of you who don't know, Wine is a project that
makes it possible to run Windows application on Linux. If
Wine were complete, then the combination of Wine+Linux would
represent an effective competitor to the Microsoft Operating
System Products. 

The Department of Justice and Microsoft have reached a
tentative settlement of the United States vs. Microsoft
antitrust lawsuit. It is widely believed that the proposed
settlement does a very poor job and that it is critical that
those of us who feel this way participate in the Tunney Act
comment process. 

Under a law known as the Tunney Act, the court is required
to consider public commentary before accepting any
settlement. 

As you can imagine, many people have contacted me to ask for
my help and input on the Microsoft case, and the Tunney Act
proceeding in particular. I've met with attorneys here in
Minnesota, as well as with the law firm that is handling the
case for the states. I've spoken with wide range of people
regarding this case. 

My Shame

I have not yet submitted any comments to the Tunney Act
comment process. 

I haven't even really engaged myself in the problem, at
least not beyond responding politely to those that call me.

Why this sucks

I'm probably the U.S. citizen most involved in the Wine
project, and if I haven't acted, then who will? 

I've heard a rumor that there are no shortage of comments
from folks 'encouraged' by Microsoft. Apparently, there are
also a number of Sun/Java encouraged comments. But not much
else. 

Bottom line: if we don't speak out now, we let Microsoft buy
this one. 

What we should do

Presumably, you're reading this page because you care as
much as I do. If you're a U.S. citizen, now is the time to
act. If you're not a U.S. citizen, forward this to a U.S.
citizen you know. 

It's easy. Here are two ways to help: 

The easy way to do the 'right' thing 

  1.Open an email window to microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov (with a
subject of 'Microsoft Settlement'). 
  2.Read through some of the many comprehensive resources on
this case and the Tunney Act proceedings:  Dan Kegel's
excellent collection of resources (mirror is here). 
  3.Pick your favorite problem with the proposed judgement.
One is fine; hopefully a lot of people will be doing this. 
  4.Compose a simple, polite, email describing the problem
and how you feel about it. 
  5.Send the email, and if you like, bcc (important do not
cc) us at tunney@codeweavers.com. 
  6.[Optional, but nice] Print your letter out (maybe
reformat it a little), and mail it to: 

    Renata B. Hesse 
    Antitrust Division 
    U.S. Department of Justice 
    601 D Street NW 
    Suite 1200 
    Washington, DC 20530-0001 

The truly easy way to at least add your voice 

  1.Send email to microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov (with a subject of
'Microsoft Settlement') saying that you think the proposed
settlement is bad idea (type only 3 words, if you must).
What counts is the number of complaints. 
  2.Send email to petition@kegel.com indicating that you
will stand as a co signer of Dan Kegel's comments. Please
give your city, state, title, and affiliation. 

Send it now. 

The comment period closes Monday morning (the 28th). 

By the time you think to come back to this page, it will be
too late.

_______________________________________________
Developers mailing list
Developers@dotgnu.org
http://subscribe.dotgnu.org/mailman/listinfo/developers

_______________________________________________

------------------------
http://www.anti-dmca.org
------------------------

DMCA_discuss mailing list
DMCA_discuss@lists.microshaft.org
http://lists.microshaft.org/mailman/listinfo/dmca_discuss
[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 