CompuServe Messages

I don't think that their is a case for any type of action against IBM or Apple under the US anti-trust statutes. These laws pertain to mergers and aquisitions only, as I understand them. The deal between IBM & Apple is a "joint venture", where both parties invest in a "new" company, taking advantage of each others strengths… much like the creation of RUBBERMAID-ALLIBERT, a joint venture between the largest consumer plastics products house in the US and the largest European plastics/resin manufacturer. Under this type of set up, competition is 'enhanced' _in the view of the courts_, because it is entirely possible that segments of both IBM and Apple will be competing with this new company for market share (yeah, right) just like everyone else. How this new company goes about licensing any proprietary stuff they come up with is another issue…