[ILUG] boot load and monopoly monies

[Paul O'Malley]

Hi,

Is this a monopolistic practise or not?
(As I write this mail I sit here with a very cheesy grin, enough to make
the cat in Alice in wonderland be jealous.)

Just so you can see what spurred my thoughts:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040322034339981

Some companies when installing their operating systems on a shared
partition have it over write the master boot record (aka the MBR).
This action destroying the dual boot capability of that partition and so
the machine needs more management to restore this function could this be
construed as a practise designed to stifle competition. 
If it is and this is a big it could such a company be billed for the
hours of work that this design choice causes?

If it is not then it would be great to see these companies innovate in
this space.

They could of course use LILO or GRUB or even adapt the FreeBSD boot
loader if they do not like the licences of the previous two.

Just my three cents worth.

Have a great week,

Paul