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bribe:
1. Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person's views or conduct.
2. Something serving to influence or persuade.

It's exactly a bribe... so what? It was done without the threat of violence so was in no way illegitimate.

The only thing here which is wrong IMO is the fact Intel can use the guns of government to enforce so called intellectual property rights. That's a monopoly granted and enforced by the government which limits competition to those who play by their rules.

So what if they broke some law. Just because a law exists doesn't make it right, legitimate or moral. Sorry to jump the shark so quickly but it was the law to own other humans once and to turn in Jews to the SS. Did they break the law? Sure. Should they be punished. Absolutely not.

Edit:
I should note that some definitions of bribe include giving money for 'dishonest' behavior. That doesn't change my argument insomuch as the governments intervention except in where such a bribe would be contrary to existing contracts which that "dishonest" action may have broken. In that case the government is simply the arbitrator to a private contract conflict. It doesn't appear to me given the evidence that even that has occurred.

Edited 2009-05-13 15:53 UTC