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Chapter 389 The Last Madness
Brad Smith told a group of people at Microsoft that this time, Microsoft was attacked by Netscape at Pearl Harbor, just like when Microsoft suddenly entered the browser industry and caught Netscape by surprise, this time Netscape also returned back.

"Not only Netscape, but the key is the Federal Department of Justice, as well as lawsuits from more than 20 states in America, which makes Microsoft very passive!

We need to contain the situation. Everyone is targeting Microsoft. If the situation cannot be controlled, I am afraid that there will be problems in Europe and even Asia. I heard rumors that Japan, Bangzi and other countries are planning to fine Microsoft! "

For so many years, Microsoft has been angry and complained. This time it was returned by a wave. The so-called Microsoft is in trouble, and everyone praises it. Regions, are ready to pounce on to take a bite, earn some fines from Microsoft or something.

Seeing Microsoft's misfortune, the media gloated, and the technology industry clapped their hands. Except for the media in Seattle and other places, who are still whitewashing Microsoft, everyone else looks like they are watching the show.

"This time it is the Federal Department of Justice, which is leading this antitrust investigation. Netscape has provided evidence for the Federal Department of Justice, which will make Microsoft very passive!"

Everyone in Microsoft knows whether Microsoft has a monopoly. In the past, they relied on money and contacts to avoid it. This time, Netscape is going to blow itself up and die with Microsoft. There is a lot of evidence for this.

The Federal Department of Justice has long wanted to clean up Microsoft. It didn’t take a day or two. It saved Microsoft two years ago. This time, Netscape finally handed over the knife, and just after the general election, the Federal Department of Justice also needs proof of performance. , Take Microsoft directly.

In addition, there is the most important point. As long as Microsoft is attacked, the positions of members and directors of the Federal Ministry of Justice will not be changed if the lawsuit is not over. As long as Microsoft is killed and it is split up, the Federal Ministry of Justice will have to The important people can also be promoted by virtue of their prestige. All kinds of things are added together. This is no longer a simple investigation, and there are too many things behind it.

When Bill Gates and others heard this, their faces became more dignified for a while, and they all understood that this time Microsoft might really have fallen into the ditch.

"Then what should Microsoft do? Can it reject all allegations like Bruno Song did, and fight the lawsuit with Netscape, the Federal Department of Justice, and other states to the end?!"

Bill Gates doesn't want to bow his head. He is tired of the life of being anti-monopoly and then paying for reconciliation. He doesn't know which giant is living like Microsoft. Aggrieved, he is really like a villain, everyone shouts and beats him, he also wants to be like Song Yang, let Microsoft toughen all opponents.

Hearing what Bill Gates said, Brad Smith poured cold water on it, "There is no comparison at all. The market value of Double-click was only how much at the beginning, and Bruno Song came to fight that double-click with the determination to lose it. Several lawsuits!"

Brad Smith made it very clear that Microsoft is different from Double-Click. The market value of Double-Click is only as high as that of Microsoft. Song Yang’s big deal is to pat his ass, lose the lawsuit, and let Double-Click delist, but Bill Gates can make Microsoft Delisting?

Not to mention the delisting, the sharp drop in the stock price has made Bill Gates very passive. There have been rumors from Wall Street institutions that they want Microsoft to abandon its pawns to protect the handsome, and let Bill Gates, the "big villain" in the technology industry, first Leave Microsoft, reduce the pressure of public opinion from the outside world, and wait for the opportunity to come back.

In fact, this is equivalent to letting Bill Gates take the blame. Just a drop in the stock price will cause him to take the blame. If he dares to delist, there is no guarantee what will happen!
Hearing this, Bill Gates sighed helplessly, and couldn't help thinking, if Microsoft had been tough with Song Yang from the beginning, would Microsoft have been less troubled now.

Brad Smith expressed his own countermeasures, "It is best to reconcile with Netscape or the Department of Justice. If you can't reconcile, then you can only let this lawsuit drag on until Netscape can't hold it, and drag it to Congress. Shan is dissatisfied with the Federal Department of Justice!"

If the lawsuit can be settled with a small amount of money, or even a few hundred million dollars, Brad Smith thinks it is still worthwhile. Every day the lawsuit drags on, Microsoft’s stock price will fall by more than a few billion dollars.

"It is impossible for Microsoft to defeat all competitors, and it is impossible to compete with dozens of competitors at the same time. I think the first thing Microsoft should solve is the lawsuits in the [-] states of America. Only by resolving them can Microsoft be free! "

Bill Gates was silent for a while after listening to the General Counsel's words, "Brad Smith, you are in charge of the litigation, but..."

Bill Gates said ruthlessly, "No matter what the outcome of this lawsuit is, whether I am still in this position or not, Microsoft cannot stop its attack on Netscape. I want the Netscape brand to disappear in the browser. Even the Internet industry!"

The faces of all Microsoft executives were terrified. They knew that this time, Bill Gates was really ruthless and wanted to kill Netscape. No matter what anti-monopoly, would he leave Microsoft? It is to kill Netscape first.

It can be seen that this time Netscape really disgusted Microsoft. Netscape first wanted to keep Microsoft out of the Internet, wanted to replace Microsoft, and now wants to split Microsoft. Netscape may not be Microsoft. The most dangerous opponent I have ever encountered, but definitely the most difficult to deal with, so that Bill Gates couldn't help it!

The second battle between Microsoft and Netscape was full of turmoil, and the entire technology industry was watching the show. Microsoft soon announced that it had formed a luxury lawyer team, with General Counsel Brad Smith in charge of responding to the reaction. monopoly case.

Microsoft firmly believes in the truth that money can pass through God. After forming a team of lawyers, it also formed a huge lobbying team in Washington, and began lobbying on Capitol Hill to block the split of Microsoft!
Netscape has connections, but Microsoft is not bad, and even stronger. Microsoft just wants to use a powerful knife to crush Netscape to death.

And soon some Netscape users discovered that their computers could not use the Netscape browser normally at all. As long as the Netscape browser was opened, the webpage would crash or even crash.

And those companies that cooperate with Netscape have also begun to be poached by the IE browser in large numbers, allowing them to develop software and programs for the IE browser.

No one thought that after Netscape appealed, facing anti-monopoly investigations, Microsoft not only did not restrain itself, but intensified. Within a few days, Netscape's market users dropped by nearly 8%, all because of Microsoft's system. Had to uninstall Netscape.

All technology companies have seen Microsoft's intentions for this kind of aboveboard target, which is to kill Netscape first. After seeing Microsoft's deadly hands, the entire technology industry was angry and afraid for a while, dissatisfied with Microsoft's domineering, But no one dared to say it again, for fear of becoming the next target targeted by Microsoft.

You must know that Internet websites and other computer software are all run on computers, and they all rely on the Microsoft system. If they are not compatible with the Microsoft system, then no matter whether the website or the software, they will all face the same experience as the Netscape browser. Totally lost the market!
In the face of Microsoft's "final madness", many people were frightened for a while, and the scolding voices against Microsoft were much less for a while, which is probably what Microsoft did not expect.

As for Microsoft's method, Song Yang just glanced at it, and didn't pay much attention to it. Microsoft's approach shows that Netscape really hindered him, but this method of staring directly at Netscape is indeed effective. .

Song Yang didn't know how long Netscape could last, whether Jim Clark and Mark Anderson would hold on to the end, or they would choose to jump off the car halfway, find a financial backer for Netscape, and then argue with Microsoft.

However, if Netscape can't bear it and sells itself, it will be great news for Microsoft. As long as Netscape stops, Microsoft will be able to free up its hands and then solve the federal Department of Justice. Microsoft's life is difficult, but Song Yang feels that there is no problem if it drags on.

Life is not easy for Microsoft, but the double-click company, which is also a fellow sufferer, has ushered in a turning point.

The ICNC TV station headquartered in New York will start broadcasting soon, and Song Yang also needs to go to attend the opening ceremony. However, before going to New York, Song Yang, Gleick, Whitman, and Clifford Chance, the representative of the double-click legal team, and others, They were all on the same plane, flying towards Washington.

On this trip to Washington, I received a message from the boss of the Federal Trade Commission, Demos Morris, through an intermediary, asking Song Yang and Double-click to go to Washington to resolve the lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission.

"If there is no accident, Double-Click Company only needs to pay a fine in the name of ignorance or lax advertising content review, etc., and the Federal Trade Commission will withdraw the lawsuit, and all legal issues of Double-Click Company will be resolved. !"

Clifford Chance, dressed in a suit and dressed in the style of an old-school lawyer, said with a bit of complacency that double-click antitrust, as well as a series of class action lawsuits and fines for false advertisements, etc., after this trip to Washington, it is possible It will be completely resolved, and as the chief lawyer of the double-click company's legal team, Clifford Chance's reputation will also reach a new height.

Once Double-click solves those troubles, not only Double-click eliminates the trouble, but also the lawyers who sued Double-click for the company will also become more famous, including Clifford Chance. , have received a call from Microsoft, asking them to join Microsoft's legal team, to "use" their advanced experience in anti-monopoly lawsuits...

However, after much consideration, Clifford Chance declined Microsoft's invitation. Microsoft is no better than double-clicking, and the lawsuit is much more difficult. His reputation was discredited, so Clifford Chance accepted Song Yang's invitation. In the future, he will become Song Yang's general legal counsel, and will be responsible for handling the lawsuits of the American Global Investment Foundation's industries together with Greck.

(End of this chapter)