Comments on: Apple calls French law 'state-sponsored piracy'

Company attacks proposal that would force it to make iTunes songs playable on devices competing with the iPod.

[Had_to_be_said]

This isnt really about "Apple"...

This is about protecting citizens from abusive business-practices. More specifically, it is about preventing businesses from utilizing technological-means to undermine legitimate, legally-established, citizen-rights, and prevent the unfair-control of entire industries.

I say GO FRANCE, and I hope a lot of others follow-suit.

Because, for anyone who fails to understand the real purpose of DRM...

The reality is that, "DRM" is a purpose-built WEAPON, designed specifically to be used against consumers, ...to undermine their legitimate PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP RIGHTS, ...whenever those rights conflict with business-desires.

In fact, this has already been PROVEN by the those that are currently promoting DRM, ...since they HAVE used it to do everything from, trying to force repeated repurchases of products and degrading products after sale, ...to planting "root-kits" on peoples computers for greater corporate-control of consumers.

Make no mistake, the REAL purpose of DRM is to eliminate the very concept of "private property ownership. Oh, youll pay for it. You may even physically possess it, but you will not control it, or be able to resell it. And, for the ignorant, that is the VERY DEFINITION of TRUE "Property Ownership".

And, if you have any doubts as to the INSANE lengths that these industries are willing to go...

The RIAA, The MPAA, and the Business-Software-Alliance (Microsoft, etc.), speaking to the U.S. Federal Government regarding reforming the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act), just basically flatly-stated that, in their view, "copyright protections" must take priority over citizens-rights, over national-economies, and even, over the health and well-being of citizens, if need be. And that, is after they HAVE ADMITTED that DRM will not actually prevent real "piracy".

DRM is the BIGGEST PROBLEM currently facing consumers, NOT the SOLUTION to ANYTHING.

At this point, much of the world has already begun to reach this conclusion. The sad fact is that, the ONLY ones who benefit from "DRM" are those that sell it, or those who use it to eliminate any pretense of such consumer ownership-rights. And frankly, in my opinion, anyone that doesnt admit such a basic fact is either SUPREMELY-IGNORANT, UNBELIEVABLY-FOOLISH, or just flat-out INTENTIONALLY LYING.

Furthermore, a person really would have to be an ABSOLUTE IDIOT to actually believe that these multi-billion dollar industries would simply close-up shop and refuse to produce any more product, if... they arent allowed to further expand their unreasonable control of consumers, and their current unbelievably high profit-margins, even further than they already have.

[J.G.]

The 'right' to steal

is what you are advocating.

I don't know how this situation will turn out. But, there is no
right to acquire goods without compensating those who produce
them.

One of the ironies of people like you is that you would scream
bloody murder if you fruits of your labor were stolen, but you
want to do exactly that to others. Now run along. Surely there
is a liquor store you should be robbing to exercise your "citizens
(sic) rights."

[skeptik]

righ on!

I so agree with EVERYTHING you've said except:
"DRM is the BIGGEST PROBLEM currently facing consumers, NOT the SOLUTION to ANYTHING."

DRM is infact a wonderful "solution" to locking in and guaranteeing revenue streams for the content companies... which is basically what you said in the rest of your post.

The real corruption is in the legislature for allowing corporate interests to circumvent citizens rights in the name of profit and campaign contributions.

You are right... it's not about apple

It's about a country with a faultering economy who now feels the only way it can advance is to leech off of foreign companies that innovate.

[open-mind]

Bigger fish to fry.

What about Microsoft and Google?

The article makes it sound like this only applies to Apple.

And of all things to worry about...

OS monopoly? No problem.
Office app monopoly? Go for it.
Browser monopoly? Yeah sure.
Web search monopoly? Cool man.
DRM Monopoly? Sacre bleu!!!

[unknown unknown]

Apple is full of it

Apple should read the law before they allow their PR department to comment on it. There is more to the law then the opening of DRM.


*It shuts down the "private copying" right that is the French equivalent of American "fair use." It allows the administration to set a maximum number (all the way down to zero!) of copies that can be made, on a media-by-media basis.

* Therefore, P2P downloading, previously covered under "private copying" in some judicial rulings now carries a fine of 38?

* Two amendments were introduced by Vivendi-Universal that are real weapons of mass dissuasion against small software authors, especially authors of free and open-source software. These specify that software authors are responsible for how users use their software! If the software can be used to make copyrighted works available, then the author *must* implement DRM, or his program can be shut down.

* The "Vivendi amendments" punish "knowingly publishing," in any form, a device or software clearly aimed at unauthorized diffusion of copyrighted works with a maximum of three years in jail and 300,000? in fines.
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/03/21/france_will_let_msft.html


Nice little artilce on why Apple is being hypocritical in it's opposition to the law.
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/03/22/apples_hypocritical_.html

[OS11]

Good info from Steve, and it explains Apple's position

...as Steve Jobs explained to Rolling Stone in 2003, iTunes DRM doesn't stop people from making and sharing unauthorized copies of their music:

None of this technology that you're talking about's gonna work. We have Ph.D.'s here, that know the stuff cold, and we don't believe it's possible to protect digital content. . . . . [There is] this amazingly efficient distribution system for stolen property called the Internet --- and no one's gonna shut down the Internet. And it only takes one stolen copy to be on the Internet. And the way we expressed it to them is: Pick one lock -- open every door. It only takes one person to pick a lock. Worst case: Somebody just takes the analog outputs of their CD player and rerecords it -- puts it on the Internet. You'll never stop that. So what you have to do is compete with it.

---
So Apple is trying hard to fight it, and sure Apple's fairplay isn't exactly "fair" for competitors, but that's business and Apple shouldn't be faulted for trying to do what is best for consumers and themselves.

[J.G.]

Two screen names, same stupidity

This is just as inane as the 'natural rights' drivel you post under
Had_to Be_said. But, feel free to carry on with talking to yourself
and patting yourself on the back. Needing a sock puppet speaks
for itself.

[Sobakus]

tsk tsk apple

tut tut, opening a DRM system so users can play iTunes music with music players other than iPod is "state-sponsored piracy" and awful things will happen for music industry?

that sounds like the typical micro$oft gibberish talking about their monopolistic Windows/Office/Internet Explorer/Media Player/closed formats/etc..

after all those years of cyber-hippy mega-kewl against-evil crap we now have to see Apple as a monopolistic corporation trying to enforce governments to remove laws that would break its monopoly over online music.

I am really amazed and astonished. Seeing is believing...

[J.G.]

Not amused, amazing

Anyone who does not know that Apple is far from being a
monopoly lacks the ability to engage in this discussion without
embarrassing herself, Toni. You're good for a chuckle, though.

[mwa423]

a little bit of something is a lot more than nothing

Presuming your stats are correct (which I'm not all too sure about) then before iTunes, the legal music market was %0 of the online music market. I'm sure the companies would rather have %6 and growing then %0

[umbrae]

Dont Blame France the Music Industry wants this too...

The Music industry has been fighting Apple on this issue too. This is all about apple selling IPODs and nothing else. The Music Industry has been pressuring Apple to open up the DRM for over a year now BECAUSE they want music more portable.

Before you say "this is about piracy" read:

http://www.azoz.com/music/features/0008.html

The RIAA has been fudging numbers to make you think online piracy is hurting their business. But if you dig you will find that the RIAA since 2000 has been "excluding" data from reports when it presents them to illustrate the affects of piracy.

[Zymurgist]

State-sponsored Piracy is A-OK

Well, there's all sorts of reasons why one can
argue that Frances take on the matter might be
right or wrong, and there's clear reasons why
it's undesirable for Apple.

That said, it's a nation's prerogative (and,
ostensibly that of their citizens) to set the
rules within their country. If a country wanted
to toss out copyright, patents, trademarks, and
farm subsidies -- well, who's a foreigner to
tell them otherwise? Heck, maybe there are
countries that will decide that corporations are
not "virtual people" under the law, but a whole
other legal concept...

If they don't want to play by your rules, the
consequence is either you deal with the rules or
don't play the game. Well, you could also go off
your rocker and pay the parents of young San
Cupertinos to have their children martyr
themselves in the land of de Gaul -- why should
a coven of unhinged apostates have all the fun?
-- but that's it.

That's the problem with self-determination.
There's always the off-chance that people won't
do exactly what they are told.

[margzim]

Many Macs in France

I'd love to see sales figures on Macs in France.

On French TV5, a cable channel seen in USA, there are many Macs,
for example, in the newsroom of the daily Liberation.

They're to be seen in films, TV docs, etc.
Those sales should be far more important than those of the ipod

[J.G.]

Statistics on Apple sales

iTMS sales in France are estimated at two percent. Five percent of
iPods are said to be sold there. International market share of sales
of Macs is about two percent of computers sold. (In the U.S., it is
either at or approaching five percent.) So, Apple can leave France
without an appreciable impact on its bottom line. The limited
losses can be made up by expanding elsewhere.

[dixon2k1]

US Law State-Sponsored Piracy

By Apple's definition of "state-sponsored", the US law permitting their monopolistic control of the iTunes/iPod is tying and therefore, state-sponsored monopoly

[heystoopid]

If truth be told

If truth be told, why should governments create laws to sponsor and maintain corrupt business monopolies, with DRM restricted corporate playing devices?

The right wing Cato instute has an interesting take on the subject in this matter under the following heading "Peer-to-Peer Networking and Digital Rights Management: How Market Tools Can Solve Copyright Problems"

link=http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3670

Oh well, it's a pity we can't turn, all the supporters and worshippers of the dreaded DRM GOD into lemmings and escort them to nearest sea cliff!

One final point is that listening to DRM'd music files, means you get to listen upto 25% less for the same battery charge, ain't life cruel!

That's my half cents worth, for choices can be interesting dependent on your point of view!

[groink_hi]

Related stories - Including links

Some information to look at the the things that have occurred between France and Apple Computer, along with some related stories related to France and DRM.

Apple pulls iPod in France (2002-Sept-30)
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-960211.html

iTunes finally arrives in Europe (2004-June-15)
http://news.com.com/iTunes+finally+arrives+in+Europe/2100-1027_3-5233852.html

European Music Fans Go Mad for iTunes (2004-June-24)
http://www.zeropaid.com/news/4477/European+Music+Fans+Go+Mad+for+iTunes

French investigators probe copy-protected CDs (2004-Aug-26)
http://news.com.com/2100-7344-5325887.html

French court won't force Apple to open up iTunes (2004-Nov-10)
http://news.com.com/French+court+wont+force+Apple+to+open+up+iTunes/2100-1027_3-5447124.html

French Courts Give Rights Win to Apple (2004-Nov-11)
http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=28337

EU steps into digital rights debate (2005-Feb-08)
http://news.com.com/EU%20steps%20into%20digital%20rights%20debate/2100-1028_3-5567628.html

Apple, Sony sued over DRM in France (2005-Feb-14)
http://news.com.com/Apple%2C+Sony+sued+over+DRM+in+France/2100-1027_3-5575417.html?tag=st.bp.story

France puts a damper on flaw hunting (2005-Mar-09)
http://news.com.com/2100-7350_3-5606306.html

Perspective: What is it about the French? (2005-May-27)
http://news.com.com/What+is+it+about+the+French/2010-1071_3-5722277.html

Viaccess and Musiwave Launch OMA DRM 2.0 Based Mobile Music Service (2005-Dec-21)
http://www.drmwatch.com/ocr/article.php/3572686

France may sanction unfettered P2P downloads (2005-Dec-22)
http://news.com.com/2100-1030-6005860.html

French look to open iTunes to other music players (2006-Mar-13)
http://news.com.com/French+look+to+open+iTunes+to+other+music+players/2100-1025_3-6049073.html

Blanket digital licence fails in France (2006-Mar-14)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/14/france_p2p_plan_fails/

French finish draft of law to open iTunes (2006-Mar-17)
http://news.com.com/French+finish+draft+of+law+to+open+iTunes/2100-1025_3-6051094.html

Kind of funny, in a way

Its kind of funny that it's Apple, not MS, facing this. Slippery slope... once it was ok to go after MS for being a 'mostly' a monopoly, EVERY company is now a target.

But that being said, its complete and utter nonsense, and shows why France's economy is wallowing in stagnation. Why innovate when you can steal? Rather than encouraging competitors by providing a favorable environment to do business in, they'd rather be parasites and live off those companies that create something great.

Why would ANYONE want to do business there? I hope apple just pulls out and tells them where to stick their law.

[sonugill79]

iPod-gold mine

I don't argue with that. The iPod was and still is a gold mine for apple. I don't expect apple to give up that easily, or fork over any kind of information. However, I as a consumer don't want to be locked down to any given single technology with my music. Two words come to mind VCR and BETA. I?m sure that brought back some bad memories. I personally think the consumers will eventually drive the market to a more acceptable solution, unless of course, the masses are too ignorant to take a look around.

[OS11]

iPod is already the VHS -

Unsure of your comment about VHS / Beta other than SONY has lost the format wars once again and "the masses" have overwelmingly chosen "Apple" as the "VHS" of the Music and Movie download markets.

Apple came up with the most flexible plan for everyone to get a fair shake and remain in control of their "own" music/movies.

3 Cheers to Apple for making the world a better place!

[Gromit801]

French Politics and Views

The French have always played very predictably in politics, sports,
and their culture: If they can't beat it, they outlaw it.

[Earl Benser]

Or they just screw it up.....

;-)

[Gromit801]

Do a little research

The worms that were created to attack OSX are pretty much non-
issues, and have been from the start.

Jobs in Hollywood.... ever hear of Pixar? Guess who owned it? Now
he has a controlling interest in Disney.

[Blito]

Open it up

Where is the piracy? Because another machine is able to read the format of a product you purchased?
If they are afraid of it being priated then put it under the Creative Commons.

[paulevans]

Ask the users - we don't want a locked-in monopoly!

I don't believe most consumers or the French Government are advocating piracy and neither am I. What we are doing is complaining about anti-competitive practices.

As someone who chose the Microsoft route and has already built up a collection of iPod incompatible music, Apple are now preventing me from choosing the iPod as legitimate way to play my content...I don't want to have to re-purchase the music I have already bought.

Why can't a player support more than one digital rights management system? That wouldn't be allowing piracy.

When we bought CD's or tapes in the past, did we only have the option to play them on one manufacturer's hardware? My main reason for going non-Apple is to have a wider choice of hardware to choose from, as good as the iPod is, why should we restrict the innovation that comes from a free market?

I might want to buy from the iTunes store if it opened itself up to other players. I would like to be in the position to choose the best all-round provider because of quality service & price, not because I didn't have any other option.

Ask the users Apple - we're not endorsing piracy, but we don't want an unhealthy monopoly either.

[Earl Benser]

You don't have an iPod....

... so your rationale is virtually irrelevant. You said you don't need
the iPod, so quite complaining. A lot of people do like the iPod, and
are happy with iTunes. It's no monopoly. it's choice, one you didn't
make, and that was your choice.

Go with what you like, and stop trying to claim that every one else
must march to your drum.

spoiled

That sounds like an argument from a spoiled child. Who are YOU to be telling companies what they can and cannot do? iPod's arent necessary for survival - its not like food or heat. Its purely a luxury. On what grounds do you think you have some moral right to use the force of government to make companies 'comply' with such policies when they think it would be detrimental to their business?

Its people with your outlook that make businesses say, "screw this, why should we even bother coming up with something good. It'll only get stolen anyways".

If SO MANY consumers want that, then why hasnt some other company come up with something that outsells iPods?

Like I said in earlier posts - its simply easier for a lazy society thats lost its ability to innovate to use the force of government to basically steal its new ideas from foreign companies that are still capable of creating something new. It's pathetic, and shows exactly how far France has fallen into irrelevance.

[J.G.]

Paul Evans is looney tunes

Amazing! You don't think coherently. You admit to choosing
Microsoft in both your computer and MP3 purchases, then turn
around and falsely accuse Apple of being a monopoly. YOU made
the choice to buy a WMA player. Apple can't be faulted for your
situation in anyway. Your genes, maybe. Possibly the environment
you grew up in. But, not Apple.

[The user with no name]

Is Apple Fostering The Criminal Element?

From the Mac Observer (http://www.macobserver.com/columns/justathought/2005/20050329.shtml?ppp=50&p=179147&sid=258ee8d6593c0c3cfcdff55b38411692#179147)

Coming Of Age



I know a guy -I will call him Bob to protect his identity- who is a criminal; he's the scum of the earth!

If people knew what Bob was up to, mothers would clutch their babes to their bosoms when they see him pass by, and men would make public speculations about Bob's lineage, and offer him directions to subterranean hot spots.

Why is Bob such a low life, vile, pond scum swilling vermin?

Because he rips audio CDs he borrows for his local library into his Mac so that he can play audio books on his iPod.

I know, I know; makes you want to cross yourself, even if you aren't Catholic.

I still talk to Bob because, well, beyond this one intractable and utterly reprehensible fault, he's not a bad person. He helps his neighbors, opens doors for ladies (or at least those ladies who know nothing of the true nature of this beast), and he drives a car that gets 30 miles to the gallon. And I found that, if I concentrate really hard, I can look past Bob's ongoing transgressions and try to understand why this otherwise decent being would shame himself and his family by continually perpetrating such evil.

It's not that hard to understand, really: You see, Bob likes audio books. He drives 40 minutes to work each day, and to wile the time away in traffic, Bob likes to listen to King, Crichton, Brown, or Koontz.

Bob also loves his iPod, and takes it everywhere he goes. It's easy to imagine Bob reasoning that if he loves his iPod, and likes audio books, why not put the two together? After all, what harm is there in making a copy of a borrowed CD for personal use? (Bob tells me that he deletes the files of any copied audio book once he's done listening, so I guess he isn't a complete waste of protoplasm.)

I have to admit, I have, once or twice, entertained the notion of borrowing and ripping one of the latest best sellers from my local library.

I ride my bike to work, a 15 minute trip each way, and, while I love music, it would be nice to break up the beat a bit and expand my literary horizons. True, I could just listen to the CDs the library provides, but that's kinda redundant, and it's taking a step backwards. I have an iPod, dammit! I should be able to listen to anything!

So, I decided to take a look at what my library has to offer by way of audio books on CD. While I was browsing my library's fairly extensive collection, I noticed an advert on the library's Web site that offered downloadable audio books.

Downloadable? You mean they are pre-ripped? Cool!

I was overjoyed. Now, I won't have to sink to Bob's level, becoming one of the denizens of the underbelly of our fair city. I could proudly walk among my fellow men, listening to borrowed audio books and knowing that my criminal record will remain spotless, and that I'm supporting my local library to boot!

But as I read further my elation slammed on the brakes so hard that I actually heard tires squeal, and my brain slammed into my forehead with such force that I thought my eyes were airbags: The library only supports Window Media Player 9 or better. While I can play the downloaded audio books on my trusty Mac, my beloved iPod is out of the running.

"NO," I wailed, shaking my fist at the screen. Through tear blurred eyes, I read the words from the library's FAQ page. They seem to shout back at me, mocking me and my little white music player: "The iPod is not compatible with Windows Media Player files and therefore the downloaded audiobooks will not play on it."

What can I do? Buy another music player just so I can listen to the downloadable audio books my library offers? I don't think so! Again, I have an iPod, dammit!

Now I'm back to thinking with criminal intent, eying the library's audio book collection with jealousy and contempt. I wanted to march into the main branch of the library, demand to speak to someone in charge, grab the person by the ears, and give him or her a healthy dose of iPod reality!

How dare they only offer WMA 9 formatted audio books! Don't they understand that the iPod has more than 60% of the portable music player market? Don't they know that there are twice as many iPods plugged into the ears of its patrons that any other digital music device?

Then I thought, "Hold the phone there Sparky, I shouldn't blame the bespectacled librarians for opting for WMA, it is hardly their fault."

I mentally relinquished the imagined librarian's ears, apologizing while an imagined team of security guards, resembling rejects from a Conan, The Barbarian movie, pummeled me with night sticks into a mass of imaginary, yet submissive pulp.

The object of my wrath does not work at the Orange County Library's central office, he resides on the other side of the country. The fault lies squarely with the boys and girls at 1 Infinite Loop. And as much as I absolutely hate to admit it, Microsoft has done something better than Apple.

Big Redmond's media software is similar to Apple's AAC files with FairPlay in two ways that matter: Both can play high quality content, and both include a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system. But Microsoft's WMA is more open, it will allow you to license and author DRM protected content, whereas Apple's FairPlay makes no such offer.

While libraries could easily encode audio books into AAC, or even MP3 format, it would have no means of protecting the intellectual property of the authors and publishers of the audio books it offers. For them, WMA is really the only choice.

My library's system is cool, too, but you can tell it smacks of Big Redmond's 'good enough' credo. You can download and listen to an audio book for 3 weeks, and the DRM of WMA keeps track of the time, automagically prohibiting you from listening further once the time is up.

There's a somewhat cumbersome renewal process, which can extend your listening period twice, after which you will need to download the book again. I have to believe that an Apple-based system would be easier for the end user to manage.

But what's really nice about this online lending system is that users won't have to wait for others to get done with the material before they can get it -- everyone can download a copy as soon as it is available. Sweet!

Unfortunately, we iPod users have come up with the messier end of the stick this time. We must either become criminals, or watch as owners of somewhat less capable, and completely less cool music players take advantage of an absolutely stellar public service.

I have to believe this is the way of the future for audio books. Libraries all across America and around the world will be offering its members audio, and perhaps video content to download, making library material available around the clock. It's a great concept, and if Apple doesn't see that, then someone is asleep at the wheel (Buddy boy!).

As I see it, Apple has 2 options: Allow iPods to play WMA formatted and protected files, or offer to license FairPlay so that libraries and others can offer and manage protected audio content.

Actually, there may be a third option, too. Apple's iTunes (for Windows only) currently converts unprotected WMA files to AAC format. Why not go one step further and convert protected WMA files to FairPlay protected AAC files? That keeps all the control on Apple's side, leaving them to license the related WMA technology from Microsoft. This is a less glamorous, but nonetheless workable solution, and if there's one thing Steve Jobs loves, it's control.

I'm going to suggest to Bob that he write Apple and ask them to do something about this problem, and if you are in Bob's predicament I suggest you do the same. If Apple hears enough noise maybe they will do something.

In the meantime, once law abiding iPod owners, like Bob, are increasing the ranks of the criminal element. Only you can help them to stop their ungodly ways, Mr. Jobs. Please help Bob. Please help all the Bobs, before it's too late.


Vern Seward is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He's been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years

[Thomas, David]

Why Why and Why?!

Why is it that if it's "Microsoft", it's open. If it's Apple, it's closed.
They are two different companies, two different computer systems.

The bottom line is, next you'll be arguing that all operating systems
have to be the same.

Shame, shame, shame. While you illustrated incredible insight, it is
also incredibly flawed.

[dirk goedseels]

I agree

and let's take the next comparison:
as someone who chose the Sony route and have already built up
a collection of Xbox incompatible games, Microsoft is now
preventing me from chosing the Xbox as a legitimate way to play
my games. I don't want to have to repurchase all the games I
have already bought.

Why can't Microsoft design the Xbox to play more than one
game format?

So I'm in favour of a law that will force Microsoft to sell it's
games for the most common consoles (like Sony, Nintendo,
Sega) as we don't want an unhealthy monopoly.

And the same will go for the HD-DVD versus the Blu-ray. Every
content provider that dares to bing out a movie on one format
should be enforced to bring it out as well on the other (besides
on standard DVD, VHS-tape, betamax and Video2000)

[fear_and_loathing]

Today's lesson is...

DON'T BE SUCCESSFUL!!!

It'll only cost you in the long run.

M$ sells a little OS called Windows. It became VERY successful...
Then the courts called it a monopoly and made them pay!

Apple sells a thing called the iPod. It has a friend called iTunes.
Together they became VERY successful. Now the French (does
anyone really give a rat's ass about the French?) want's to make
Apple pay because they're too successful!

I feel bad for the person out there who's creating "the next big
thing"... because someday, he's gonna become rich and
successful... and he's gonna have to PAY!!!

Invent a car that runs a thousand miles on a pound of grandma's
secret cookie dough. You sure as hell better not exclude the
rest of the auto makers from making money off of you... and for
god sake, don't sell more of your cars than anyone else sells of
theirs (even though your product may be superior and people
buy them because they LIKE them). They'll call you a monopoly
and make you pay, and share your cookie dough secrets with
Ford and Hundai.

Ever notice that nobody has a problem with you when you're
somewhere in the middle.
If Mac OS ever becomes really successful and has let's say 50% of
the market (hold your stupid comments about how that will
NEVER happen... This is just an example), people will suddenly
cry foul! "You can't sell your OS that only runs on your
computers!... That's a monopoly!"