First, that list of companies has deep pockets, and it is WAY harder to undue legislation than prevent it in the first place. So, suggesting in any way that we let it be and take some other tactic is bad advice, IMO.
Second the "niche webapp" bit is way too cliche. What "webapp" is going to threaten Dell, Intel or Apple? Even some of the software companies on that list focus on things that are not going to fall prey to "niche webapps" for any foreseeable time.
So, to me, your comment was a strawman that added no value.
Thanks, I appreciate the opportunity to engage. Apple, Intel and Dell are the misfits on that list, fine. Although by the same logic Microsoft (the equivalent of a webapp developer in its time) should pose no threat to IBM.
For sure, they aren't going to fall prey to a single webapp. But they are being chipped away at - Autodesk is now up against Sketchup. Microsoft is facing Google Docs, iOS, Ubuntu, Android etc etc etc. All those competing products came from acquired startups - I doubt they set out to 'fell Microsoft' , and nor have they done it.
I wholeheartedly agree with you that we oughtn't to let this legislation roll through - I was a bit flippant on that.
I didn't downvote, but possibly it's because you're suggesting people build webapps to compete with anti-virus firms, CAD/CAM vendors and a couple of hardware manufacturers.
Interesting, because I would bet that there will be a serious web app contender in the CAD sphere at some point. I'm not so sure the OP is off the mark here.
Maybe someday, but I just can't see a web app that could seriously compete with the likes of Adobe or Autodesk in the foreseeable future. While there are online services that provide some of the features found in applications like photoshop, they are hardly compelling enough to get any Adobe or Autodesk customer to jump ship. Same goes for the like of Siemens and Mastercam, but probably more so.
Trend did a pretty decent job with Housecall - I think that was mainly an ActiveX control? I don't know much about the AV industry, but their market (Windows PCs) is being challenged by mobile devices, tablets, *nix, Macs and browser-based systems.
Other operating systems can get viruses too. Windows has the most viruses pointed at it because most people use it. The Antivirus industry is not really being challenged.
