C
I Host 'Fires Shots Across Bow' in Response to Microsoft
Claims [19th November 2003]
DALLAS, Nov 19, 2003 /PRNewswire via
COMTEX/ -- C I Host, a global leader in Web hosting
and Internet infrastructure, today released a confident
response to Microsoft's attempts to gain information
on 200,000 C I Host clients via an aggressive lawsuit.
Christopher Faulkner, CEO of C I Host,
said, "If we were a publicly traded company, the
press might call it a hostile takeover on Wall Street.
But, we are the largest privately owned hosting company
in America. Our clients list is invaluable and it's
one of the requests by Microsoft in meetings months
ago."
C I Host was served with court documents
November 12. The story hit newsstands the next day.
A standing gag order in Federal Court may prevent C
I Host from detailing legal strategies.
"This lawsuit is totally without
merit," Faulkner said. "This could be quite
a 'spitting match' when you consider Microsoft has been
warming up in an anti-trust case, which they lost to
the United States Government. Our legal department is
thoroughly investigating Microsoft's allegations, the
applicable law and all interpretations of the rules
regarding our right to use software it purchased from
Microsoft."
C I Host continues to pay licensing
fees for use of Microsoft's server products, which comprise
roughly 3 percent of its server software requirements.
The Microsoft products are designed, licensed, marketed
and sold expressly to host applications and solutions
that connect via XML Web services, to easily develop,
deploy and manage Web services such as those provided
by C I Host.
C I Host anticipates filing responsive
documents within the guidelines set by The Court, rather
than rushing to react to what appear to be baseless
allegations.
In an analogy, Faulkner said Microsoft's
attempts to take a bigger cut of C I Host's business
are similar to "buying a clock radio with a CD
player, then later the manufacturer wants to collect
fees every time the owner plays a CD."
C I Host vowed to defend itself by whatever
means afforded by the law while maintaining "business
as usual" service to its customers.
"If this case boils down to who
spends the most money in advertising, we have an uphill
battle," Faulkner said, "But if we can make
this a case of businesses should do the right thing
... we will do well."
SOURCE C I Host
D. Kent Pingel, Public Relations Director
of C I Host,
+1-888-868-9931, ext. 7006, or kentp@cihost.com |
