“Now that a U.S. judge has made an initial finding that
Microsoft Corp. holds a monopoly in PC operating systems, here’s
what the government should do about it: Separate Windows from
Microsoft. There is no way any commercial concern-much less as
aggressive a marketer as Microsoft-can be expected to fairly price,
distribute and maintain the key software ingredient of a PC
industry that moves 100 million units a year.”
“While this is a drastic step, it is a fair one for the
industry, and it makes technical sense. It will be enormously
difficult to handle the divorce equitably, but it can be done.”
“Start by making Windows an open-source-code operating
system. Linux has shown that the model works and that it leverages
the innovation of the entire design community. To ensure
compatibility and orderly innovation, however, the government
should set up a testing agency responsible for certifying annual
upgrades and extensions of the Windows OS. The elements of
that agency already exist in Microsoft’s OS testing group and its
WHQL labs, which could be spun out as an independent company,
reporting to an ad hoc industry council of PC OEMs and end
users.”