Microsoft speaker at Harvard Law School on Nov. 28

[John Sullivan]

Monday, Nov. 28 at 5pm Ames Courtroom, Harvard Law School 1515
Mass. Ave., Cambridge MA

Public Lecture by Brad Smith, General Counsel of Microsoft: "The
Future of Software, the Internet, and Innovation" Sponsored by the
Berkman Center for Internet & Society and the Harvard Journal on Law
and Technology (JOLT)

Here are some things to keep in mind if you go:

Don't focus on what he says--look for the hidden assumptions he takes
for granted, and bring them out in the open.  Assumptions like, "You
should want software that works well, and never mind if it respects
your freedom."

Some issue you can try to bring up in your questions:

* Microsoft can try to compete with free software on price, quality,
and features--but freedom is something it does not even offer.

* Microsoft buys influence in schools and governments to push users
toward Microsoft; Microsoft is trying to buy the Massachusetts
legislature now.

* Microsoft's contracts that require us to pay for Windows even if we
don't use it should be illegal.

* Microsoft has been convicted twice of monopolistic behavior in the
US alone.  The second time, Bush let Microsoft off the hook after
receiving campaign contributions.

* Microsoft has tried to make the Internet adopt "standards" which
Microsoft patent license policies forbid free software to support.


If you attend, please send us a mail about how things went. 

-- 
John Sullivan
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