By Will Sturgeon, 28 January 2004 14:55
NEWS Tony Blair's government is under fire for the awarding of an honorary knighthood to Bill Gates.
Among those speaking out against the decision is a member of the European Parliament who expressed disgust at the timing of the announcement, which coincided with Gates' visit to the UK to discuss NHS software licensing and attend an event chaired by Chancellor Gordon Brown.
The decision to bestow the honour on Gates was always likely to prove controversial because of the on-running EU case against Microsoft, which is being investigated for anticompetitive business practices.
Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England, said: "This sends out all the wrong signals. Would the government grant an honour to a businessman who is under investigation by trading standards officers in the UK? Of course not."
While Gates' record of supporting charitable causes is second to none, and not in question, as long as there is still a huge question mark hanging over the legality of his business model in Europe the award raises concerns of a hidden agenda on the part of the government, according to Lucas. Certainly Gates is a useful ally for the government to have.
Lucas added: "This honour gives the impression that the government is far more concerned about currying favour with the rich and influential than demonstrating its commitment to upholding EU law - an impression that is undoubtedly true, given the frequency with which the UK government finds itself hauled before the European Court of Justice for breaches of EU legislation."
Earlier this week, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office expressed an open disregard for the EU's case against Microsoft. Today, Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England, revealed a widening rift between the UK government and the rest of Europe and warned that having friends in high places in the UK is no guarantee of a legal lifeline for Gates.
"I don't think anybody need worry about the UK honours system and the EU competition case against Microsoft," he said. "Nobody in Brussels knows, or cares, about British patronage of Americans. The Commission is completely independent in its conduct of competition policy and, as far as I can see, resolute too."
However, not all MEPs are opposed to the UK's disregard of EU legislation. Nigel Farage, UK Independence Party MEP for the South-East, said: "It is about time that the British government acted on its own initiative and ignored what the European Union says and does. It is a purely British matter which should not be decided or influenced by Brussels."
Comments
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1. anonymous
Bill Gates has only recently started actually giving to charity - until it was publicised, his charity work consisted of giving PCs and MS software to third world countries.
I have to say that the charity thing is a smart publicity move because even now the only nice thing that people can say about him is that he gives to charity.
2. anonymous
why not give a gong to Bill Gates, he is certainly not the worst person to receive a gong or en-noblement and in fact seems to be one of the better ones judging by the past history of giving gongs to people who have done well for themselves and given to charities out of their fortunes that they have amassed. If he can give a helping hand to others surely that is to be commended rather than condemned. As many people know he would not be able to be known as Sir William in the USA so where is the harm, after all Ronald Regan was knighted by Maggie.
3. P Laszkowicz
Bill Gates has been supporting charities for a long time, none more so than his jointly owned charity that he set up with his wife.
People should begin to seperate Bill Gates from Microsoft - he's not the only person responsible, he's just the most famous director of the corporation.
I myself am not a fan of Mr Gates, nor of Microsoft - but I do give them credit for what they achieved in the early days and I agree Bill would deserve a Knight Hood for his work for both charity and the technology he's helped create.
In addition, I do have a copy of Windows, if I had major issues with Microsoft I would not buy the operating, how many other people who dislike Mr Gates or Microsoft still buy (or acquire!) the software? Mildly hypocritical - I myself just buy the OS and I also buy Linux as my primary - the only reason I have the OS is for testing purposes.
4. Angus Doyle
I have to stand by Sir Gates, Microsoft has a shrewd business model they have built a company from a small garage to a multi-billion dollar corporation, most companies aroung the world would love to be in that position. Granted some of there tactics are anti-competitive but so what its all good for the consumer, sorry if I dont lose any sleep over Joe Bloggs software being upset that Microsoft has undercut there prices. We should look more closely at the insurance companies as they have been ripping us off for years.
5. anonymous
Being anti-competetive does not do good for the consumer. Sure, in the short term things are incredibly cheap (or free of charge). This is called dumping. When the field is free of competitors, *then* the consumer loses-- because there is no competition.
6. notagatesfan
Angus, I'm surprised at you. An IT director being so ignorant?
I don't suppose you actually do any of the purchasing at your company? Tell me, how does XP compare to OSX, BSD, Linux for cost? How about paying your staff to come in nights and weekends to patch for all the new vulnerabilities? What exactly is 'cheap' about using Microsoft?
Also, Miscrosoft have a tendency to bully others out of the market when these same others have invented something new that MS have ripped off (Netscape, anyone?). Name one good product that's ever come out of this? (I suppose you're going to say Internet Explorer)? For that matter, name one thing that MS have ever come up with first?
If Redmond has its way, all other 'joe blogss' will be out of business, and we'll all be stuck using garbage, over bloated software that crashes regularly, doesn't do what you want it to, costs a fortune to buy, upgrade, support and use, and NEVER GETS ANY BETTER!!!! To the Joe Blogss of this world, I salute you - the sooner Jack cuts the beanstalk, the better.
Not that he doesn't deserve a Knighthood - after all, the original Knights were those that came in, cut peoples heads off, proclaimed themselves in charge. Quite fitting really.
7. Mark SPLINTER
the dude is a billionnaire, and a shrewd spindoctor, of course he gives to charity. There's a story in the Bible about how much money rich people give to charity AS A PERCENTAGE of their wealth. You mite want to read it. A society that praises him for BECOMING A BILLIONNAIRE through cutthroat tactics is a society gone mad.