Summary: Steps are taken by Russia to prevent abolishment of choice

YESTERDAY we wrote about Windows bundling and recently we wrote about what Microsoft was doing in Russia [1, 2]. The Russian authorities are finally closing in on Microsoft by exploring relationships with OEMs. This is the right approach to take. From the press release:

On 15th July 2009, the Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) began proceedings in a case against €«ÃÂÃ‘Ðµr Inc.€», €«ASUSTeK Computer Inc.€», €«Toshiba Corporation€», €«Hewlett-Packard Company€», €« Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.€» and €«Dell Inc.€» for the elements of violating the antimonopoly legislation. In accordance with the Determination of 20th July 2009, the FAS Russia's Commission, investigating the case, suspended the case until receiving additional evidence. The case will continue on 10th September 2009.

As noted here, this is a dangerous precedence to Microsoft.

Be sure Microsoft will put up a fight, because it will:

1. Make clear to the customer what he pays for and how much he pays for it; 2. Make it virtually impossible to impose its terms to hardware manufacturers; 3. Give customers a real alternative, backed by a major company; 4. Expose the vulnerability of its business model in the 21st century to the shareholders in a way that cannot be misunderstood; 5. Create a dangerous precedent - if here, why not in the US?

The Federal Antimonopoly Service ought to look at recent examples such as ASUS. To name some posts on the subject:

• ASUS Enters the Slog Business
• More Suspicious Moves from ASUS
• It's Unofficial: Microsoft Pays ASUS (Kickbacks) to Block GNU/Linux. Will EU Commission Step in?
• ASUS: “Currently, We're Closely Tied up With Microsoft”
• What is Going on with ASUS and GNU/Linux?
• ASUS Profits Fall 94% After Getting “Closely Tied Up with Microsoft” at the Expense of GNU/Linux
• Microsoft Embracing, Extending, and Extinguishing Sub-notebooks
• Does Microsoft Blackmail Sub-notebooks Vendors?
• What Microsoft's Anti-Linux Taskforce in Wal-Mart Teaches Us About Sub-notebooks

There are many other sets of examples, but the links above refer to just one. ⬆