Analysis and discussion of issues that impact business

If there's anything more tenuous than a business partnership, I'm not sure what it could be. According to Danit Lidor, writing for Forbes:

The $40 billion Microsoft has been one of $2 billion Adobe's biggest partners over time, but increasingly the companies have begun overlapping in software strategy.

So how does the prospect of a Microsoft PDF-type format, or paying for a separate download of Adobe sound?

So what does this all mean?

Adobe refused to comment on speculation that it would pursue an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, either in Europe or the U.S.

"We've discussed our concerns openly, both with Microsoft as well as with a number of regulatory agencies around the world," said Adobe spokeswoman Holly Campbell, in an e-mail statement.

That sounds ominous. But there's some irony, too.

And though in the past (Adobe's chief executive, Bruce) Chizen has clearly said he considers Microsoft to be a monopoly, he also said he thinks the competition is healthy.

After all, it was partly the threat of Microsoft's competing products like Windows Vista (which will bundle Flash and PDF rivals) that helped Adobe hold off its own possible antitrust judgment during the buyout of Web animation software company Macromedia last year.

So, will this re-shape how business does business? Doubtfully. But, when 2 giants like this go at it, there's bound to be some fallout. It should be interesting to watch.