Re: Microsoft does a good deed

On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:38:30 -0800, Daniel Pitts wrote:

> Roedy Green wrote:
>> European courts have forced Microsoft to do***ent the formats of its
>> various application files and provide im****t/ex****t in various standard
>> formats.
>> 
>> We North Americans will get the benefit of this.
>> 
>> It will reduce MS lockin, but it will make their products more useful
>> when it is possible to create, extract and manipulate that application
>> data with third party programs.
>> 
>> I think of it this way. The data belongs to the customer, not to MS.
>> What they were doing was like a bank that refused to honour
>> withdrawals.
>> --
>> 
>> Roedy Green Canadian Mind Products
>> The Java Glossary
>> http://mindprod.com
> What makes you think you're data belongs to you? Just ask the RIAA or
> MPAA.  Not to mention that your OS doesn't belong to you either, you're
> granted permission to *use* it not own it.
> 
> I know it sounds cynical, but have you actually read your EULA on
> microsoft products?
se the value of there products by allowing
> third-parties to add value.

If I write a do***ent or program something then I own it. I did not 
create  Megadeth's Rust in Peace or the Beatles' Ballad of John and Yoko 
just as I didn't create Windows.

Are you trying to imply that Microsoft owns the rights to Stephen King's 
work if he uses a Windows PC?