Back To 1995

  Chapter 389 The Last Madness

Brad Smith told the Microsoft group that this time, Microsoft was attacked by Netscape on Pearl Harbor, just like when Microsoft suddenly entered the browser industry and caught Netscape by surprise, this time Netscape also gave it back. came back.

   "Not only Netscape, the key is the federal Department of Justice, there are lawsuits in more than 20 states in America, which makes Microsoft very passive!

  We need to stop it. Everyone is targeting Microsoft's situation. If we can't control the situation, I'm afraid that there will be problems in Europe and even Asia. I heard rumors that Japan, Bangzi and other countries are brewing fines for Microsoft! "

For so many years, Microsoft has done a lot of anger and resentment. This time it was returned by a wave. The so-called Microsoft is in trouble, and all parties praise it. This time, it is really a real show from Chiguoguo. I see that there are cheap opportunities, even overseas. Regions, all ready to pounce and take a bite and earn some fines from Microsoft or something.

   Seeing Microsoft's bad luck, the media gloated over the misfortune, and the technology industry applauded. Except for the media in Seattle and other places, who were still whitewashing Microsoft, everyone else looked like they were eating melons and watching a show.

   "This time, the Federal Department of Justice is leading this antitrust investigation. Netscape has provided evidence for the Federal Department of Justice, which will make Microsoft very passive!"

  Does Microsoft have a monopoly? Everyone knows that Microsoft is well aware. In the past, it relied on US knives and connections to avoid it. This time, Netscape is going to blow itself up and die with Microsoft, providing a lot of evidence for this.

The Federal Ministry of Justice has long wanted to clean up Microsoft. It has not been a day or two. It let Microsoft escape two years ago. This time, Netscape finally handed over the knife, and just after the election, the Federal Ministry of Justice also needs proof of performance. , directly take Microsoft to open the knife.

In addition, the most important point is that as long as Microsoft is dealt with, the lawsuit is not over, and the position of the member of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the director will not be changed. As long as Microsoft is killed and divided, the Federal Ministry of Justice will have to deal with it. The big people can also be promoted by virtue of their prestige. When all kinds of things are added together, this is no longer a simple investigation, and there are too many things behind it.

  Bill Gates and others heard this, their faces became more solemn for a while, and they all understood that this time Microsoft might have fallen into a ditch.

   "Then what is Microsoft going to do? Can it be like Bruno Song, rejecting all accusations and going to the end with Netscape, the Federal Department of Justice and other states?!"

Bill Gates doesn't want to bow his head. This kind of anti-monopoly comes to him every three days and two ends, and then he pays for the reconciliation. He is tired of living. He doesn't know which giant is still living like Microsoft. Feeling aggrieved, like a villain, everyone shouts and beats him. He also wants to make Microsoft **** all opponents like Song Yang.

Hearing what Bill Gates said, Brad Smith poured a pot of cold water, "There is no comparison at all, the market value of the double-click was only how much, and Bruno Song, with the determination to lose the double-click, came to fight that Several lawsuits!"

Brad Smith made it very clear that Microsoft is different from Double-click. The market value of Double-click is only how much, and how much is Microsoft. Song Yang slapped his ass, lost the lawsuit, and let Double-click delist, but Bill Gates can make Microsoft Delisting?

Not to mention delisting, the sharp drop in the stock price has made Bill Gates very passive. There have been rumors from Wall Street institutions that Microsoft should abandon its soldiers and keep the leader, and let Bill Gates, the "big villain" in the technology industry, first Leave Microsoft, reduce the pressure of public opinion from the outside world, and wait for the opportunity to come back.

   In fact, it is equivalent to letting Bill Gates take the blame. If a stock price falls, someone will make him take the blame. If he dares to delist, there is no guarantee that something will happen!

   Hearing this, Bill Gates sighed helplessly, and couldn't help thinking, if Microsoft had been tough on Song Yang's side from the beginning, would Microsoft be less troublesome now.

Brad Smith stated his countermeasures, "It's best to settle with Netscape or the Department of Justice, if you can't settle, you can only let this lawsuit drag on, until Netscape can't support it, and drag it to Congress. Shan is dissatisfied with the Federal Department of Justice!"

   If you spend a little money, or even a few hundred million dollars, you can solve this lawsuit. Brad Smith thinks it is still worth it. Every day the lawsuit drags on, Microsoft's stock price falls by more than billions of dollars.

"Microsoft can't beat all its competitors, and it's impossible to compete with dozens of competitors at the same time. I think the first thing Microsoft should solve is to get lawsuits in 20 states in America, solve them, and Microsoft can free up their hands! "

  Bill Gates listened to the general counsel's words, and was silent for a while, "Brad Smith is responsible for dealing with the lawsuit, but..."

Bill Gates said with some ruthlessness, "No matter what the outcome of this lawsuit, whether I am still in this position or not, Microsoft can't stop attacking Netscape, I want the Netscape brand to disappear in the browser. Even the internet industry!"

All the Microsoft executives looked stern, knowing that this time, Bill Gates was really ruthless, and he wanted to kill Netscape, no matter what anti-monopoly, would he leave Microsoft or something? Just kill Netscape first.

It can be seen that this time Netscape really disgusted Microsoft. Netscape first wanted to keep Microsoft out of the Internet, wanted to replace Microsoft, and now wants to split Microsoft, Netscape may not be Microsoft The most dangerous opponent I have ever encountered, but it is definitely the most difficult to deal with, so much that Bill Gates can't help it!

The second battle between Microsoft and Netscape caused a lot of uproar. The entire technology industry was eating melons and watching the show. Microsoft soon announced that it had formed a luxury lawyer group, and the general counsel Brad Smith was responsible for responding to the reaction. Monopoly case.

  Microsoft firmly believes in the truth that money can communicate with God. After forming a lawyer group, it formed a huge lobbying team in Washington, and started lobbying on Capitol Hill to prevent the breakup of Microsoft!

  Netscape has connections, but Microsoft is not bad, even more powerful. Microsoft just wants to use a powerful knife to crush Netscape.

   Soon some Netscape users found that their computers could not use the Netscape browser normally. As long as the Netscape browser was opened, the webpage would crash or even crash.

   And those companies that cooperated with Netscape also began to be poached by IE browser in large numbers, and let them develop software and programs for IE browser.

No one would have imagined that, after Netscape's appeal, facing the anti-monopoly investigation, Microsoft not only did not retreat, but intensified. Within a few days, Netscape's market users dropped by nearly 8%, all of which were tossed by Microsoft's system. Had to uninstall Netscape browser.

With this kind of aboveboard targeting, all technology companies have seen Microsoft's intention, that is to kill Netscape first, and then see Microsoft's dead hand. For a time, the entire technology industry is angry and fearful, dissatisfied with Microsoft's domineering, But no one dared to say it again, for fear of becoming the next target of Microsoft.

You must know that Internet websites, as well as other computer software, all run on computers and rely on Microsoft systems. If they are incompatible with Microsoft systems, both websites and software will face the same experience as Netscape browsers. Completely lost the market!

   In the face of Microsoft's "last madness", it frightened many people for a while, and the scolding against Microsoft was much less for a while, which is probably not what Microsoft thought.

Song Yang just glanced at Microsoft's method, but didn't pay much attention to it. Microsoft's approach shows that Netscape is really dragging its feet, but this method of staring at Netscape is indeed effective. .

  Song Yang didn't know how long Netscape could last, whether Jim Clark and Mark Anderson would hold on until the end, or would they choose to jump halfway, find a backer for Netscape, and then argue with Microsoft.

However, if Netscape can't bear it and sells itself, it will be great news for Microsoft. As long as Netscape stops, Microsoft will be able to free up its hands and deal with the federal Department of Justice, even if it is Microsoft had a hard time, but Song Yang felt that there was no problem in dragging it on.

   Microsoft is having a hard time, but the double-click company, which is also a troubled brother, has ushered in a turning point.

The New York-based ICNC TV station is about to start broadcasting, and Song Yang also needs to go to participate in the launching ceremony. However, before going to New York, Song Yang, Gleick, Whitman, and the representative of the Double Click Law Group, Clifford Chance and others, They were all on the same plane, heading for Washington.

   This trip to Washington was due to a message from the head of the Federal Trade Commission, Demos Morris, who sent Song Yang and Double Click Company to Washington to resolve the lawsuit with the FTC.

"If nothing else happens, Double-click only needs to pay a fine in the name of ignorance or lax censorship of advertising content, and the Federal Trade Commission will withdraw the lawsuit, and all of Double-click's legal issues will be resolved. !"

Clifford Chance, dressed in a suit and dressed as an old-school lawyer, said with a bit of complacency, the double-click antitrust, as well as a series of class action lawsuits, false advertising fines, etc., after this trip to Washington, all may be It will be completely solved, and as the lead lawyer of the Double Click Company's lawyers, Clifford Chance's reputation will also reach new heights.

Double-click solves those troubles. Not only does Double-click save troubles, but the lawyers who filed lawsuits for Double-click Company will also become famous, including Clifford Chance. , all received a call from Microsoft, asking them to join Microsoft's legal team, and to "leverage" their advanced experience in anti-monopoly lawsuits...

However, after thinking it over and over again, Clifford Chance declined the invitation from Microsoft. Microsoft is no less than Double-click, and the lawsuit is much more difficult. It seems to have made a lot of money, but the time line is stretched, and it seems that it is not so profitable. His reputation was ruined, so Clifford Chance accepted Song Yang's invitation. In the future, he will become Song Yang's general counsel, and he will be responsible for handling lawsuits in the industries of the Americas Global Investment Foundation together with Gleick.

   (end of this chapter)