The operating system of a computer is a product independent from the hardware and should be treated as such. Forcing users to buy proprietary operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, enables monopolization of the market, which is anti-competitive and un-American. All major computer system manufacturers and retailers currently force consumers to also pay for a license for Microsoft Windows, regardless of whether or not they intend to use that software. Consumers unfairly cannot request that computer hardware be sold without the proprietary operating system. In effect, proprietary software vendors like Microsoft are holding the hardware hostage. We want manufacturers and retailers to offer the same computer systems without requiring the purchase of a proprietary operating system.



