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Tech Consortium Forms to Fight Government Regulation

Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) has already fought on behalf of Microsoft, and is now considering Intel antitrust case.

By Blaise Zerega, PCWorld   

While cautioning that the Association for Competitive Technology is only two weeks old and has not yet taken a hard position in the Intel case, the group%squots leaders say that any government regulation is alarming and that action by the group on behalf of Intel is likely.

%dquotIt would be likely that we%squotd have a strong position on any proposed remedies that are offered by the government in the case of Intel,%dquot said Jonathan Zuck, executive director of ACT in Washington, D.C.

ACT has already issued a letter to Congress on behalf of Microsoft in its case with the U.S. Department of Justice, arguing that the computer industry is best left unregulated. ACT leaders are also seeking meetings with key policy makers.

According to Zuck, ACT may take similar actions on behalf of Intel, including the filing of a supporting legal brief. %dquotIt%squots a possibility,%dquot Zuck said.

ACT founders include executives from Symantec, Visio, and five other companies. According to Zuck, the organization was formed in response to the government%squots effort to regulate the content of Windows 98.

ACT President Mike Sax, in Eugene, Oregon, says Microsoft is an ACT member and a funding source, but the organization is acting independently in its advocacy.

%dquotThis is definitely not a Microsoft PR effort,%dquot Sax said.

At present, it%squots uncertain whether Intel will join ACT and what effect, if any, its membership would have on advocacy by the organization. According to Zuck, there have been discussions with Intel about joining the group.

%dquotI%squotd think Intel would find us an appealing organization to join,%dquot Zuck says.

An Intel representative could not confirm whether Intel has plans to join ACT.

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