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Microsoft Buying Adobe?

uk.reuters.com

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Re: Microsoft Buying Adobe?

#61

Post by mattparcher »

mootothemax wrote: post #59

I'm not sure I understand: how would a merger between these two companies get past the regulators? I doubt they'd let Apple jump into bed with Adobe, let alone Microsoft...

From the original NYT report [1]:

Randal C. Picker, a professor of law of the University of Chicago law school, said in a telephone interview that the technology space is drastically different than it was when Microsoft was originally charged with antitrust violations and an acquisition or partnership of this nature would likely not be halted.

Mr. Picker said that the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission are focused on other large technology companies and consumer related issues.

[1] http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/microsoft-and-adobe...

Re: Microsoft Buying Adobe?

#65

Post by mootothemax »

mattparcher wrote: post #61
mootothemax wrote: post #59

I'm not sure I understand: how would a merger between these two companies get past the regulators? I doubt they'd let Apple jump into bed with Adobe, let alone Microsoft...

From the original NYT report [1]: Randal C. Picker, a professor of law of the University of Chicago law school, said in a telephone interview that the technology space is drastically different than it was when Microsoft was originally charged with antitrust violations and an acquisition or partnership of this nature would likely not be halted. Mr. Picker said that the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commissio…

Thanks, very interesting. I'm genuinely surprised though, as we're talking about some huge spaces being gobbled up: Photoshop, ColdFusion, Director, Flash, FrameMaker, Illustrator etc. And those are just some of their bigger names! :)

Re: Microsoft Buying Adobe?

#66

Post by _b8r0 »

This would be quite interesting. If Microsoft bought Adobe, what would happen to PDF on Mac? What would happen to Silverlight? Would the next Office use PDF as a standard format?

Then there's the creative suite. What would happen to photoshop? Dreamweaver (or MS Frontpage 2012 as it'd be renamed)? InDesign (or Microsoft Publisher 2012 as it'd be called)?

Also think about the other side of it. The Acrobat team would be forced to actually secure their reader instead of relying on researchers to do it for them.

I think this can only be a good thing(tm). As Dan Kaminsky once said, "What could possibly go wrong?"

Re: Microsoft Buying Adobe?

#67

Post by mcbain »

matrix wrote: post #34

I suppose this is feasible if Microsoft is looking to acquire Adobe's enterprise customer base - the PDF, document management, etc part of the company. Having Air/Flex/Flash might also be nice, but doesn't seem like a good fit for Microsoft's traditional Windows-centric strategy (one they should abandon, in my view - the days of owning the market via the desktop are rapidly coming to a close). What I'd love to see is…

What is Microsoft's track record for spinning off companies?

The Photoshop/CS part of Adobe is somewhat profitable, correct? Would MS let it go (even for a bucket of cash)?

Re: Microsoft Buying Adobe?

#68

Post by slantyyz »

icey wrote: post #56
cryptoz wrote: post #8

"Microsoft Flash". shudder

There is something to that - Microsoft has been spending a lot of money and resources trying to encourage Silverlight adoption. One way to do that might be to buy the rights to Flash.

The last thing I need is a Microsoft FlashLight.

Re: Microsoft Buying Adobe?

#69

Post by joezydeco »

revorad wrote: post #64

Such a deal could be worth $15 billion or more based on Adobe's current market value. Adobe is worth less than half of Facebook? Rolls eyes

Apples and Oranges. Adobe is publicly traded. When (if) Facebook IPOs, they will not be worth $33 billion.

http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2585-facebook-is-not-worth-33...

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