> /* Written 9:03 AM May 7, 1998 by pen-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu in igc:bitl.pen */ > /* ---------- "Gates Leads Rally Against Governmen" ---------- */ > forwarded by Michael Hoover > > > Subject: Gates Leads Rally Against Government > > By John Borland, Net Insider (05/05/98; 4:47 p.m. ET) > > > > Microsoft executives led a rally of business leaders in Manhattan > > Tuesday, warning an economic disaster would strike if government > > officials postpone the Windows 98 release date. > > > > Surrounded by dozens of sympathetic computer executives, Microsoft CEO > > Bill Gates warned of broad negative economic effects if the latest > > version of the operating system is blocked as a result of the > > government's antitrust investigation of the company. "Any government > > actions that would delay or derail Windows 98 would hurt the American > > economy and cost American jobs," Gates said. "It would also create an > > opening for foreign companies to move into a position of leadership in > > an industry that has been a strong exporter for America." > > > > Microsoft has been fighting a rear-guard public relations battle in > > recent weeks as both federal and state law enforcement officials have > > appeared to be readying antitrust suits against the company. Some > > comments by state regulators have indicated they may try to block the > > scheduled mid-May release date of Windows 98. "This is a very serious > > situation," Gates said. > > > > Tuesday's rally, along with the flurry of supportive third-party letters > > and Microsoft-funded media advertisements, has been a late effort to > > counter competitors' lobbying campaigns, Gates said Compaq CEO Eckhard > > Pfeiffer and Microsoft CEO Bill Gates stand firm at a Microsoft > > supporters rally in New York City. Using the patriotic rhetoric of a > > close-fought political campaign, Microsoft allies said a delay in the > > release of Windows 98 would badly hurt their own businesses and > > undermine the country's economic health. > > -- |