~mkw

Average guy, above average luck...the blog of M. Keith Warren

OT: Microsoft and China

Microsoft censors words like Freedom and Democracy

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050614/china_microsoft.html?.v=3

I understand there are business considerations in all decisions like this and likewise the ultimate responsibility is a fiduciary one before the investment community but this really bothers me. All that talk about Microsoft and moral courage in the face of a state bill which extends specific and special rights to a certain minority group already protected as part of general anti-discrimination laws. Now a test of real courage and nothing.

Respect lost.

Posted: Jun 14 2005, 09:22 AM by mkeithwarren | with 3 comment(s)

Comments

Travis said:

Think of all those copies of XP they would lose the sale for if they did not censor these words.
# June 14, 2005 12:13 PM

Stefán Jökull said:

Also, they are pretty much obliged to do this, otherwise they're putting their business in China in danger and opening themselves up for lawsuits from shareholders and investors for not trying to maximize the company's value.
# June 14, 2005 4:15 PM

Jim Arnold said:

"they're putting their business in China in danger"

Uh, yeah. Maybe they shouldn't BE in business in China until the Chinese government stop hitting the crack pipe.

Having said that, maybe there is a third way between boycott and brown-nose. If you can do business with or in China and stay on an ethically sound footing, go ahead.
# June 14, 2005 8:11 PM
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