Re:How Microsoft Appointed Itself Sheriff of the Internet
by xorcist on Thursday October 16, 2014 @12:00PM
(#8465598)
> instead of seeking a secret court order
The blame here must reside with the justice system. There will always be companies attacking their competitors by legal means, it must be the responsibility of the system to not let them get away with it.
Re:How Microsoft Appointed Itself Sheriff of the Internet
by morganvachon on Thursday October 16, 2014 @12:16PM
(#8465693)
Indeed, the situation reeks of a rubber-stamp mentality among the court staff involved with this case. Having worked in law enforcement in the past, I've seen first hand how some judges can just blindly approve whatever warrant or order comes across their desk without so much as a cursory glance at the details, consequences be damned.
My take: Microsoft dropped the ball while genuinely trying to do a good thing. First, they should have communicated with No-IP as they have in the past instead of seeking a secret court order; they have worked together in the past and there was no reason they couldn't this time as well. Failing that, the court should have required Microsoft to reimburse No-IP for any lost revenue due to the action, given that No-IP was not allowed to even know about the order, much less present their side or make an attempt to work with Microsoft.
I honestly don't think Microsoft set out to destroy No-IP's business, there simply isn't a logical reason for that. They aren't a direct competitor (Microsoft is not in the dynamic DNS business to my knowledge), and if they were, using the court like this to destroy a competitor would end badly for Microsoft. No, I think they just plain goofed. It definitely sucks that they aren't more willing to help No-IP get back on their feet.