Re:Bill Gates answers questions about Java during a depositi...
by ghshephard on Monday October 27, 2014 @04:09AM
(#8514387)
"Gates also admitted to speaking directly with Steve Jobs on the phone. This was clearly anti-competitive behaviour."
There is no law, implied, explicit, or otherwise that suggests CEOs of competing companies can't, or even shouldn't talk with each other.
While there are many areas that are off limits to competitors (setting price levels, dividing markets, reducing supply) - there are lots of valid reasons for competitors to communicate on a regular basis around issues like standards, purchasing agreements, licensing agreements, etc...
I'm sure that Boo-Keun Yoon (CEO of Samsung) and Tim Cook have frequent conversations trying to settle their differences.
Re:Bill Gates answers questions about Java during a depositi...
by aleem on Monday October 27, 2014 @06:44AM
(#8514743)
The anti-competitive behaviour was the conversations with Apple regarding collusion to undermine Sun. These conversations spanned email, phone calls and meetings all within close proximity. The email was the clearest indication of it as it spelt out the "clear plan" on which Microsoft would proceed.
As per the email, the phone call (which in itself cannot be proved but more matter is shared later on when Microsoft CFO/Treasurer met with Jobs and other documents came to light).
At the 32 minute mark it comes to a head where Gates is reading a 3 line mail for a while, rocking back and forth. The email written by Gates read: "Do we have a clear plan on what we want Apple to do, to undermine Sun".
Prior to that document being produced in the video, Gates spent a good 10 minutes or so on the arguing the use of the words, "competitive threat" and "undermine" and so forth.
Gates also admitted to speaking directly with Steve Jobs on the phone. This was clearly anti-competitive behaviour.
The next line of questioning then goes into pedantic details about Microsoft's discussions with Apple and the same game continues.