American History 1988
Chapter 406 - 395: Conflict

Chapter 406: Chapter 395: Conflict

Since the Justice Department announced a daily penalty of one million US dollars against Microsoft, this antitrust battle had become the headline of major news outlets.

Following Standard Oil, AT&T, and IBM, America finally had another antitrust lawsuit.

Yes, IBM had also been targeted with an antitrust lawsuit in the 1980s. However, after a lengthy 13-year investigation, the case had faded away.

Because over time, IBM had fallen behind its competitors in many businesses.

Along with its own decline, IBM had severe financial problems in the early 90s.

If the object of antitrust was already struggling to survive, what reason was there to continue the investigation?

IBM, having narrowly escaped, was ultimately let off lightly by the Justice Department.

Now, Microsoft had taken up IBM’s baton and had started to become the target of the Justice Department’s scrutiny.

Long before the rivalry between Netscape and Microsoft had reached a critical stage, the external media had already been reporting on the conflict between the two.

Yahoo was especially active, in its special reports, Microsoft’s aggressive measures were laid bare.

As the world’s leading portal site, Yahoo’s influence was undeniable.

The image that Microsoft had painstakingly cultivated over the years was being increasingly tarnished.

Even Ralph Nader, the advocate for consumer rights, was drawn to this struggle taking place in the high-tech industry.

Thus, a week after the Justice Department announced its decision, Ralph Nader had convened a conference in Washington to expose Microsoft’s threats.

This was meant to be a populist movement, but the organizers charged each participant a fee of 1000 US dollars.

The official reason was "to fund Ralph Nader’s future investigations into the high-tech industry."

Well, this is America, where everything is business.

Nevertheless, the conference still attracted many people, including some highly influential figures from the industry.

Netscape’s commissioning lawyer, Lübeck, also attended the meeting, where he pointed out:

In Microsoft’s online encyclopaedia Encarta, the entry for "Gates" was filled with flattering language.

Clearly, Microsoft was using online services with self-serving motives to beautify Gates’ personal image.

Attorney Robert Katz also warned that Microsoft was forcing competitors out of new online marketplaces.

Ralph Nader, whose fame had been fading, saw this antitrust struggle as an opportunity.

Some newspapers dressed him up as America’s leading fighter for small businesses.

"Anytime, this software giant is extremely dangerous and should not be given the opportunity to dominate the future."

Ralph Nader accepted an interview from Wired magazine, which has a tremendous impact in the high-tech industry.

"Microsoft is not content with its immense market share in the personal computer software domain.

It plans to hold our hands as we navigate the information superhighway by strategically positioning system desktops and providing product and service links, subtly pushing us toward its partners or subsidiaries."

In the interview, Ralph Nader spoke candidly, expressing his view that Gates’ company endangered consumer choice and freedom of speech.

Ahem, it’s worth noting that one of the founders and editors-in-chief of Wired magazine—Kevin Kelly, is Dean’s friend.

In the year that Teams was just being introduced, the first physical distribution store here in Silicon Valley was owned by Kevin Kelly’s son.

Including the advertisements in Global Overview magazine, it was also thanks to him that this deal was achieved.

So all these seem unrelated, but actually, a thread silently links them all together behind the scenes.

Dean’s advisory team was using these resources to influence public opinion on the stance and views towards this antitrust case.

But Netscape can do this, and certainly, so can Microsoft.

As the world’s largest software company, it was impossible not to have its own political influence backing it.

Therefore, three weeks after the Justice Department’s ruling, the Senate Speaker Newt Gingrich expressed dissent about the department’s decision.

He believed it was procedurally inappropriate since Microsoft’s previous antitrust investigation had formally ended with the signing of a settlement treaty.

Even if the Justice Department wanted to restart an investigation against Microsoft, they must go through the process again, rather than directly issuing a decision.

Clearly, this outcome was obviously in Microsoft’s favor, as restarting the investigation would buy Microsoft a lot of buffer time.

Janet Reno from the Justice Department contested Newt Gingrich’s viewpoint, not believing that the judicial act had violated procedural justice.

However, Gingrich and other Republican figures clearly were not ready to give up the fight.

They clamored to initiate a hearing, letting the public review whether Microsoft had violated the antitrust treaty.

At the same time, external media also started to exert effort to reverse the narrative, trying to absolve Microsoft of various accusations.

"I think their products are top quality," a user told reporters.

Clearly, compared to the tech industry, ordinary Windows users had an easier time developing a favorable view of Microsoft.

Not only that, but numerous biographies about Gates continually flowed into bookstores and libraries.

A biography aimed at elementary school age, Bill Gates: The Billionaire Computer Genius, was also launched during this period.

"Perhaps Gates isn’t the bad guy," the liberal voices argued, "the American government’s monopoly is much worse than Microsoft’s."

The Libertarian faction also began condemning the federal government as the "bureaucratic villain" trying to take down Microsoft.

The Cato Institute released a 50-page brief attacking the actions of the Justice Department.

"This is a game of choosing sides between big government and big business, and we clearly know which side we are on," said an economist from the Cato Institute.

Because the voices of debate from outside were getting louder, pressured by public opinion, the Justice Department decided to temporarily suspend the daily one million US dollar fine against Microsoft.

But that didn’t mean the anti-monopoly actions had ended; on the contrary, a bigger movement was brewing.

...

"Boss, you must see this movie yourself."

Just as Dean was preparing to head to the East Coast, Prysko from Orion had scurried over from Los Angeles.

"What? Eric, I don’t have time to worry about movie stuff right now, I need to make a trip to Washington."

Orion was still managed by Prysko, and Dean had originally planned to find a new CEO for it after a year of acquisition.

But the competition with Microsoft had left him no time to be distracted by these matters, so he had not been too involved with Hollywood for the time being.

"Boss, this movie is different. Only you are qualified to judge it," Prysko said as he handed over a script.

Dean glanced at it, and his furrowed brow soon lifted.

"’The Great Dean Price’?"

"Yeah~" Prysko rubbed his hands excitedly, "It’s a genius theme, isn’t it?"

Dean’s expression was a bit strained, "Eric, you don’t have to do this..."

"No, no, no, Boss, this isn’t just flattery.

It’s because your own experiences are legendary, and everyone in America knows this."

Prysko waved his hands passionately, "The media has already reported many times about you.

But so far, no movie or documentary has brought you to the screen.

As a typical representative of the American Dream, you owe it to the young people and countless entrepreneurs to set an example!"

Prysko looked serious, as if Dean’s refusal would be like denying a chance to save America’s next generation.

"So you’re saying I have no reason to refuse?" Dean asked amusingly.

"Of course, Boss, please trust my professional judgment.

People are very interested in you, and the youth see you as their idol..."

"Alright," Dean interrupted his overt flattery, "Who are you planning to get to shoot this movie?"

"Spielberg, look, we’ve already signed the contract." Prysko pulled out a contract.

"Eric," Dean laughed, shaking his head, "I didn’t expect you to be so efficient."

"It’s the eager audience that’s driving me," Prysko modestly adjusted his tie.

In fact, the movie was already fully prepared from script to crew; it just needed Dean’s final nod.

When they heard it was a biographical movie about Dean, many Hollywood individuals were quite eager.

Great director Spielberg? Prysko had hardly expended any effort to convince him.

The networks Dean had developed over the years were not cultivated in vain.

Ignoring Prysko’s smiling face, Dean’s attention shifted back to the movie.

"When are you planning to complete it, or have you encountered any problems?"

"We have actually run into a bit of an issue," Prysko looked troubled.

"What?" Dean turned his gaze curiously.

"We can’t find the right leading actor," Prysko spread his hands helplessly, "We’ve selected a few candidates, but they just aren’t quite right."

"Why?"

"Because they don’t have your handsome face."

Smack, Dean laughed and slapped the script against his chest, "Alright, sort out the rest yourself."

"As you wish," Prysko bowed and then left the office.

"Regis, was this your idea?" Dean turned his attention to his advisory team.

Regis McKenna had been in charge of Dean’s PR team since the start-up days.

He was well-known in the industry and also a member of Silicon Valley.

When Dean posed the question, McKenna just shrugged. "Gates’ biographies are flooding the bookstores; we needed a countermeasure.

Movies are the most suitable medium; they spread much faster than books."

"Well, make sure I see it before it’s released." Dean decided not to intervene in the advisory team’s decisions.

"Certainly, but going to the East Coast, we should also meet a biographer."

"A biographer?" Dean turned his head, puzzled.

"Dean, haven’t you noticed? You don’t have any biography yet," Regis reminded.

"But..." Dean spread his hands, "didn’t you say their spread is too slow, and Gates is also pushing this kind of publicity?"

"It’s different, Dean." Regis gestured with his hands, "Gates has too many biographies, but you don’t have any.

Trust me, people will be interested, it’s your first time.

And it won’t take much of your time either, the primary drafting will be handled by a professional writer."

"Alright, I just hope this lawsuit ends soon."

Dean’s trip to the East Coast was to push this matter forward.