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Comment by eloff | Hacker News Reader

This is daft, Bill Gates has nothing to do with this. He spends his time at his foundation helping poor people, not directing Microsoft to lobby against patent reform.

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I don't know what the original, now-deleted message said, but Gates is still chairman of Microsoft's board. I'm sure he isn't micromanaging lobbying efforts, but he definitely has more than nothing to do with this.

He is apparently involved with Intellectual Ventures, so while probably not directly involved in killing the reform, this isn't the most noble of positions.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/08/bill-gates-still-...

Let's not get carried away. Bill Gates is Chairman of the Board of Microsoft. Its not like he is far removed from the company that he used to run.

Software patents reform -> medical patents reform -> cheaper drugs?

He still did not comment on his Monsanto investment shenanigans.

I do think it is very good what his foundation is trying to achieve. But do you believe all his actions are good? Do you believe all his past actions regarding this issue were right? Beware of Halo Effect.

Of course not. He ran a powerful company in a ruthless manner. I just said it's daft to think he's personally involved in this particular event.

I think he is still responsible for creating this monster. And he never apologized for the consequences of his actions that are still unraveling like today. Remember Ballmer was placed because he was always following his lead and counsel, as reported.

yeah helping poor people like when he donated a bunch of money along with bloomberg to try to turn over the douglas county schoolboard along with the teacher's union. I don't consider this type of messing with local politics to be helping "poor people".

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