"The debate in a Baltimore federal court is over who
has a better idea about how to close "the digital divide," and
equip needy schools with computers. On one side are Microsoft and
the lawyers suing Microsoft; on the other side, Apple Computer,
Linux advocates and other Microsoft critics.
No matter who is technically right, isn't the very idea and
place of the debate so very wrong? Isn't this the wrong debate in
the wrong place between the wrong people? Shouldn't everyone
involved be sent home with a note from the teacher? If Microsoft
wants to give away software, that's a noble idea; but it's also an
idea that should have nothing to do with the antitrust suits
against it.
Consider how we got here. In the wake of an epic U.S. Justice
Department antitrust suit against the software giant, hundreds of
private plaintiffs--all or nearly all claiming to represent a
larger "class" of plaintiffs--also sued Microsoft, all claiming to
be injured by the company's illegal practices."
