Microsoft to lose Billions - WTO Rules against U.S.

[daedalus]

U.S. blows off WTO....Countries Seek Compensation (http://www.eog.com/news/full-article.aspx?id=24620)

It seems our best strategy here is to make sure the major U.S. export companies (Microsoft, Telecoms, etc.) understand that because of the U.S. Trade decision here that other countries will now seek to violate their Intellectual Property and Copyrights until they get their $5 Billion worth of compensation back.

It seems that if Microsoft (Steel companies etc) knew this they would be putting some huge heat on the U.S.'s WTO strategy.

Anybody know the most effective way to make these companies aware of this decision and it's implications. Do we act like stock holders and call? Should we call brokerage houses so they understand there is risk here in these companies profits and stock prices? Please advise.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Microsoft_Sign_on_German_campus.jpg/800px-Microsoft_Sign_on_German_campus.jpg

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/images/exec/billg_bio.jpg

http://laptoping.com/wp-content/Intel_logo_3.jpg

http://www.foxnews.com/ucat/images/58751_cingular_320x240.jpg

[RGL]

Here's a link to another article.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/22/business/EU-FIN-ECO-WTO-US-Internet-Gambling.php

[LuckyTxGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
Anybody know the most effective way to make these companies aware of this decision and it's implications. Do we act like stock holders and call? Should we call brokerage houses so they understand there is risk here in these companies profits and stock prices? Please advise.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya I'm sure that none of those Fortune 100 companies pay any attention to these sorts of politics when they are (supposedly) at risk of losing millions or billions. They need concerned poker plays pretending to be stock holders to get them to realize how severe the issue is. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry but do you realize how ridiculous this idea sounds?

[daedalus]

[ QUOTE ]
Ya I'm sure that none of those Fortune 100 companies pay any attention to these sorts of politics when they are (supposedly) at risk of losing millions or billions.

Sorry but do you realize how ridiculous this idea sounds?

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you not realize the irony in this statement when PartyGaming, 888, etc. all lost 100's of millions of dollars because they didn't act in advance of the UIGEA.

I hope you're right but a google news search shows this issue is not getting traction outside the gambling media.

[Jerry D]

There is also a new article on gambling911 that also talks about this and how India, the EU, Brazil, and maybe others are talking about joining together against the insane US actions in the case. I guess if I can't play poker than maybe at least I can buy Spiderman 3 for .89 cents, a copy of Microsoft Vista for $1.99, or 100 tons of steel for $10.

This current republican adminisration and justice dept. is staffed with people who graduated from Pat Robertson's law school for goodness sake,(Bill Maher on his show quoted figures of enormous number of Pat Robertson law school graduates in the current justice dept.) I am sure countries like India, Brazil,and the mighty mighty EU will be able to clean their clocks and empty their wallets with one hand tied behind their backs.

[Sniper]

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Do you not realize the irony in this statement when PartyGaming, 888, etc. all lost 100's of millions of dollars because they didn't act in advance of the UIGEA.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just because UIGEA passed, does not mean that those companies did not act... in fact, they were very concerned about the impact of any legislation. Interestingly, one of the things held against the Neteller founders relates to dislosing their legislative concerns.

[daedalus]

How cool. So now I need to sell my NetFlix and Paramount Studios stock too. How ironic, thru their protectist efforts they are going to end up costing the U.S. GDP a few billion.

Friggin' Greek Tragedy !! /images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[LuckyTxGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you not realize the irony in this statement when PartyGaming, 888, etc. all lost 100's of millions of dollars because they didn't act in advance of the UIGEA.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

However, I do hope and pray that Microsoft and the other huge US corps. are run a little better than Party Poker.lol However, I do give you that one. I still can't believe the poker companies sat on their hands and watched the ship sinking and didn't ramp up any efforts until it was waaay too late.

Oh and btw, to whom it may concern, quoting Bill Maher for facts is never a good idea.lol

[asterion]

[ QUOTE ]
There is also a new article on gambling911 that also talks about this and how India, the EU, Brazil, and maybe others are talking about joining together against the insane US actions in the case. I guess if I can't play poker than maybe at least I can buy Spiderman 3 for .89 cents, a copy of Microsoft Vista for $1.99, or 100 tons of steel for $10.


[/ QUOTE ]Hmm....I didn't like Spider-Man 3, $1.99 is $1.99 too much to pay for Vista, but I sure could use 100 tons of steel. Count me in.

[YoureToast]

Guys and gals, this seems like a great opportunity. This is the kind of story a WSJ type reporter would eat up. Its complex, yet involves ideas and concepts that everyone can understand. This needs to get out there -- somehow. It is perhaps true that the MS and Intels of the world are aware of this, but the fact that there has been NO media coverage on this outside of the gambling arena is cause for question. I think the idea of going to big shareholders of MS is a good one, but going to the WSJ may be better. Just my take.

[Dunkman]

I'll believe this when I see it. I mean it's possible that the EU decides this is the time to stand up to the US, but the fallout from an action like this will be substantial. I just can't imagine the EU and others would risk the damage to the world economy in order to defend Antigua's online gambling interests, although I guess you never know.

[Richas]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll believe this when I see it. I mean it's possible that the EU decides this is the time to stand up to the US, but the fallout from an action like this will be substantial. I just can't imagine the EU and others would risk the damage to the world economy in order to defend Antigua's online gambling interests, although I guess you never know.

[/ QUOTE ]

The EU would love to pretend to be on the little guys side and will use this whenever the Doha round starts again. India and Brazil are great allies to have in the WTO talks. I am not too surprised that the mainstream media aren't really on to this one it is all a bit hard for the poor journos to understand but it may get some coverage out of the G8 summit in Germany next month.

[CountingMyOuts]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh and btw, to whom it may concern, quoting Bill Maher for facts is never a good idea.lol

[/ QUOTE ]

At least it will get you closer to the truth than quoting anyone from the Bush administration.

[j2zooted]

How does this help us as poker players? From my novice view, if Antigua and other affected countries win compensation claims against the United States, it would be in the form of non poker related benefits. Are we going to give up poker and start selling cheap copies of Vista? I suppose this could force the United states to somehow repeal the UIGEA, but i don't see how. Just my two cents anyways.

[Richas]

[ QUOTE ]
How does this help us as poker players? From my novice view, if Antigua and other affected countries win compensation claims against the United States, it would be in the form of non poker related benefits. Are we going to give up poker and start selling cheap copies of Vista? I suppose this could force the United states to somehow repeal the UIGEA, but i don't see how. Just my two cents anyways.

[/ QUOTE ]

If it were to get that stage the trade sanctions allowed for Antigua, Brazil, India, the EU.....continue in force until the US conforms to the rules. It is not a one off compensation it is an ongoing cost year on year. The sanctions can be chosen for maximum political effect so the EU can look at who supports UIGEA, look in their home state and slap sanctions on that senators biggest local employer/contributor. They'll probably start with farm products or Boeing and so link it in to the farm subsidy row and help support Airbus.

[BigAlK]

[ QUOTE ]
How does this help us as poker players? From my novice view, if Antigua and other affected countries win compensation claims against the United States, it would be in the form of non poker related benefits. Are we going to give up poker and start selling cheap copies of Vista? I suppose this could force the United states to somehow repeal the UIGEA, but i don't see how. Just my two cents anyways.

[/ QUOTE ]

If it starts to look like there will be major sanctions that will negatively impact industries with a lot to lose then they'll hopefully start pushing the government to negotiate or, even better, reverse its' decision. This could potentially lead to something positive. The reporting in the mainstream media would gain traction and be heavily influenced by PR from these industries. This is apt to make the government look bad in the eyes of the common man.

Imagine if the record, movie, and software industries directed their lobbying and PR machines to this. Although their goals would be different than our's, the outcome might not be.

[Grasshopp3r]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

If we can be co-belligerents with a more powerful industry, that is a great thing and augers well for the future.

I still think that Microsoft will be involved in online poker in the near future. Bill Gates could personally buy Party Poker.

[ollie5050]

[ QUOTE ]
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

If we can be co-belligerents with a more powerful industry, that is a great thing and augers well for the future.

I still think that Microsoft will be involved in online poker in the near future. Bill Gates could personally buy Party Poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

If he buys it...... God the rackback...... oh please god.

[ekdikeo]

I found it in a questionable IT rag:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/23/antigua_wto_us_gambling/

[Grasshopp3r]

Microsoft is less vulnerable as they have validation systems built into their software. Other intellectual property industries are more vulnerable, such as music and film. However, their IP is already routinely violated by China and Russia, two of the most egregious violators.

This dispute only has real teeth if other countries line up behind Antigua for cross penalties. I expect that to be the direction that this heads, which will force a solution from the US, one way or another.

I sure hope that Antiqua uses their windfall from the US in the form of new bonus offers.

[lfairban]

This is close to a best case scenario.

When the WTO ruling against the US came out, many people speculated that there might be retaliation by Antigua with the support of the UK or other countries.

That may be what happens or what is threatened by Antigua.

[ProsperousOne]

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If he buys it...... God the rackback...... oh please god.

[/ QUOTE ]

lmfao!!!!

[webmonarch]

Blog post on some of these issues by the CyberLaw law firm:

US Under Siege for Online Gambling (http://www.cyberlawonline.com/cyberlawg)

[Jerry D]

[ QUOTE ]


Oh and btw, to whom it may concern, quoting Bill Maher for facts is never a good idea.lol

[/ QUOTE ]

There are numerous articles from newspapers and news magazines about how Republican graduates from Pat Robertson's law school are changing America. You can read the slate article below:

www.slate.com/id/2163601/ (http://www.slate.com/id/2163601/)

Or you can type "Pat Robertson Law school graduates in the justic department" into google and you will get many articles on how these new graduates of Pat Robertson's law school have been hired in big numbers by the Justice Dept. under the Republicans. These new graduates who are now changing America DO NOT BELIEVE IN SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. I put that in caps because I think it deserves attention.

Pat Robertson, by the way, for those of you not familiar with him, has said that he has changed the course of hurricanes. He has said he has cured cancer. He has said the terroirst attack on 9/11 was a signal from "God" that he was unhappy with the sin in America. THIS is the man these new graduates at the justice dept. follow and whose law school they graduated from.

If anyone doesn't find this disturbing for the future of freedom in America they are mistaken.