Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 21:16:20 +0200 (MET DST) From: Wilko Bulte <wilko@yedi.iaf.nl> To: rene@tcja.nl (Rene 'Freeze' de Vries), freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: makes you wonder... Message-ID: <199804181916.VAA14407@yedi.iaf.nl>
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Found this on the Usenet. True? Wilko -------- Stung by the public relations fallout from antitrust investigations of its business practices, Microsoft Corp. has secretly been planning a massive media campaign designed to influence state investigators by creating the appearance of a groundswell of public support for the company. The elaborate plan, outlined in confidential documents obtained by The Times, hinges on a number of unusual-and some say unethical-tactics, including the planting of articles, letters to the editor and opinion pieces to be commissioned by Microsoft's top media handlers but presented by local firms as spontaneous testimonials. .... Even in the modern world of corporate spin control, the proposed plan is unusual in its scope, tactics and targets. The campaign is beibeing choreographed by Edelman Public Relations, a giant PR firm with close ties to Microsoft. But sources said it is designed to appear not as a major thrust by Microsoft or Edelman, but as an eruption of grass-roots support. .... Opinion pieces are to be written by freelance writers, and perhaps a "national economist," according to one document. The writers would be paid with costs "billed to Microsoft as an out-of-pocket expense." .... Los Angeles Times, 10 april 1998 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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