Excepting that this is Microsoft, there's really nothing new to see here. A contract is a contract, no matter whether if it's with a 500 pound gorilla or with Guido from downtown (though the similarity is striking).
I had a relative that owned a wholesale food delivery service. Business was good, though the profit margin was small. During a small downturn in the economy back in the early 70s he had a couple restaurants declare bankruptcy on him. Unfortunately they were a couple of his biggest customers, and left him with pretty big bills. Well, guess what? He still had to pay his supplier, and that small fact finally drove him under (which would have happened anyway with the advent of Sysco, but that's a story for another day).
I guess the reasons we're complaining are that:
- It's Microsoft
- It's software
Granted, I like to get in on a little Microsoft-bashing myself, but I think that here they have them by rights. A little compassion would be nice, but perhaps they can appeal to the Gates Foundation for some of that.
Dt