News from a fucked up parallel dimension
Sun Sues Microsoft Again
The latest installment in the neverending story of the tech industry's single most toxic relationship.
This time around the asking price is "north of $1 billion" in damages over the Borg's decision, announced back in July '01, to leave Java out of Windows XP; a decision taken in response to Sun's successful lawsuit, launched in '97, that charged Microsoft with infringing Sun's Java licensing agreements, in settlement of which, Microsoft agreed to no longer license from Sun any current or new versions of Java, which led to them pulling it out of XP, for which Sun is now suing them again, as not having Java in XP is killing them...
Er...I think I've got to lie down for a while...feeling a little dizzy...
Let's try that one again, in bullets:
- (flip) 1995 Sun launches Java
- (flop) 1996 Microsoft signs licensing agreement with Sun for embedded Java
At the time, Bob Muglia said that Microsoft intended “...to be the premier supplier of Java-compatible tools to Internet developers." To which his oppo at Sun responded: “Microsoft's commitment to Java is both impressive and comprehensive...”
- (flip) 1997 Sun sues Microsoft for breach of Java contract
- (flop) 1999 Sun kind of wins round one in ’98, but loses on appeal
- (flip flop) 2000 A US district court rules that “Microsoft must ship products featuring the Java programming language that conform to standards set by...Sun Microsystems”
- (flop flip) 2001 Microsoft forks over $20 million; promises not to license Java any more and is barred from using the “Java compatible” trademark. A blessing, Sun’s rhetoric would lead one to believe, devoutly to be wished.
Quoth Sun EVP Patricia Sueltz: "Microsoft has proven time and again that it is unwilling to abide by the common rules of the internet. Its behavior with regard to the Java technology was just one instance. And when presented with the choice of compatibility or termination, Microsoft chose termination."
Scott McNealy: "It's pretty simple: This is a victory for our licensees and consumers."
Mind you, the Borg's posturing was no less bullish on this: "Microsoft is very pleased with the successful conclusion of this litigation," said Tom Burt, deputy general counsel for litigation at Microsoft.
Ah, but wait...
- 2002 (flop flippity flip floppy flip feckin flop) Sun sues Microsoft for >$1 billion, asking that: “Microsoft be forced to distribute Sun's latest version of Java with Windows XP”
In...Out...In...Out...Shake it all about.
I mean, can anyone other than visitors from the planet Litigate follow what the fjørk is going on here?
Yeah, I know what’s really going on (I’m not stooopid). It’s "get Microsoft anyway you can at any cost by any means". But let’s say you’re a federal judge being asked to wade through this twisted rococo millefeuille; wouldn’t you get to the point where you just want to say “Bollocks” and have done with it?
Oh, and check this out (just for the sheer petty amusement value):
Go to the Sun.com search page and search on: microsoft lawsuit - 3,914 hits.
Hmmm...quite a lotta hits there, bub. I'd call that pretty relevant.
Then try a word search for “Microsoft” on this page: Sun History. No hits. Not one. Zip. Naff all.
"Impressive and comprehensive" indeed.
Harumph.
Sun Sues Microsoft Again
The latest installment in the neverending story of the tech industry's single most toxic relationship.
This time around the asking price is "north of $1 billion" in damages over the Borg's decision, announced back in July '01, to leave Java out of Windows XP; a decision taken in response to Sun's successful lawsuit, launched in '97, that charged Microsoft with infringing Sun's Java licensing agreements, in settlement of which, Microsoft agreed to no longer license from Sun any current or new versions of Java, which led to them pulling it out of XP, for which Sun is now suing them again, as not having Java in XP is killing them...
Er...I think I've got to lie down for a while...feeling a little dizzy...
Let's try that one again, in bullets:
- (flip) 1995 Sun launches Java
- (flop) 1996 Microsoft signs licensing agreement with Sun for embedded Java
At the time, Bob Muglia said that Microsoft intended “...to be the premier supplier of Java-compatible tools to Internet developers." To which his oppo at Sun responded: “Microsoft's commitment to Java is both impressive and comprehensive...”
- (flip) 1997 Sun sues Microsoft for breach of Java contract
- (flop) 1999 Sun kind of wins round one in ’98, but loses on appeal
- (flip flop) 2000 A US district court rules that “Microsoft must ship products featuring the Java programming language that conform to standards set by...Sun Microsystems”
- (flop flip) 2001 Microsoft forks over $20 million; promises not to license Java any more and is barred from using the “Java compatible” trademark. A blessing, Sun’s rhetoric would lead one to believe, devoutly to be wished.
Quoth Sun EVP Patricia Sueltz: "Microsoft has proven time and again that it is unwilling to abide by the common rules of the internet. Its behavior with regard to the Java technology was just one instance. And when presented with the choice of compatibility or termination, Microsoft chose termination."
Scott McNealy: "It's pretty simple: This is a victory for our licensees and consumers."
Mind you, the Borg's posturing was no less bullish on this: "Microsoft is very pleased with the successful conclusion of this litigation," said Tom Burt, deputy general counsel for litigation at Microsoft.
Ah, but wait...
- 2002 (flop flippity flip floppy flip feckin flop) Sun sues Microsoft for >$1 billion, asking that: “Microsoft be forced to distribute Sun's latest version of Java with Windows XP”
In...Out...In...Out...Shake it all about.
I mean, can anyone other than visitors from the planet Litigate follow what the fjørk is going on here?
Yeah, I know what’s really going on (I’m not stooopid). It’s "get Microsoft anyway you can at any cost by any means". But let’s say you’re a federal judge being asked to wade through this twisted rococo millefeuille; wouldn’t you get to the point where you just want to say “Bollocks” and have done with it?
Oh, and check this out (just for the sheer petty amusement value):
Go to the Sun.com search page and search on: microsoft lawsuit - 3,914 hits.
Hmmm...quite a lotta hits there, bub. I'd call that pretty relevant.
Then try a word search for “Microsoft” on this page: Sun History. No hits. Not one. Zip. Naff all.
"Impressive and comprehensive" indeed.
Harumph.
