Microsoft bashers were out in full-force last week, chastising the company for a new technology in the forthcoming version of its Windows operating system they say infringes on free speech, intellectual property and the copyrights of Web content creators.
What's it all about? Microsoft is considering adding a feature to Windows, due out October 25, which would take users to links pre-determined by Microsoft.
The Smart Tags feature automatically scans the Web pages that a Windows XP user browses, and then inserts new links beneath certain words, like the names of companies, products or whatever. If the user clicks on that Microsoft-created link, a new browser window opens with more links to Microsoft owned-sites or other sites and Web pages chosen by the company.
In its defence, Microsoft told reporters that the technology, called Internet Explorer Smart Tags gives Web surfers "valuable links to relevant information." The company also said it is still testing the feature as part of the beta process for its new Windows XP OS and hasn't yet decided whether those features will make it into the XP final build.
Dave Winer, a long-time industry pundit and founder of UserLand, doesn't agree.
"Microsoft is now not only a monopoly in operating systems, they are also a monopoly in Web browsers. Will we allow Microsoft to use that power to edit our content?"
Winer asked in an email message. "I won't write for a Web where Microsoft inserts links into my writing. It would have no integrity . . . what you're reading right now is *my* document. I did not and will not give Microsoft the right to modify it."
Gee, I don't know if I agree. After all, it's been noted there are other companies who've developed technologies that recommend related sites and content as you browse the Web--and those technologies work without the permission of the site.
What's gotten people like Winer and others riled is concern that Microsoft might, because of its OS monopoly be able to force its technology down the throats of unsuspecting, uninformed or apathetic users who might not realise the implications of the technology.
It's a tough call. New technologies are good, and Microsoft has helped bring many technologies to the mass market.
But then again, what if someone went through this entire column and underlined words, without my permission and then put in the links to Web sites and pages that made a mockery or subverted everything I wrote? Yes, I could see how that would really be annoying.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Microsoft hasn't yet decided whether it will incorporate Smart Tags into Windows XP. But maybe the whole ruckus around the issue will convince it that maybe it's not such a smart business move to add Smart Tags to its new OS.
Then again, the government's antitrust case is about to be decided by a federal appeals court and maybe plans for a court-ordered break up of Microsoft will go through. Then Microsoft would be forced to re-evaluate all the standalone technology it's bundling into XP, like its instant messaging software and its audio and video player.
But since odds-makers are betting the appeals ruling will be in Microsoft's favour, it might be that Windows users will just have to get used to Microsoft's Smart Tags becoming a way of life. After all, stranger things have happened.
