Microsoft Caves to EU Antitrust Demands
Microsoft Caves to EU Antitrust Demands
by , 11:40 AM EDT, October 22nd, 2007
Microsoft finally threw in the towel on Monday and agreed to comply with the European Union's 2004 antitrust decision against the company. The move follows a three year battle where the Redmond company worked to gain concessions from the EU Competition Commission, according to Reuters.
"The repercussions of these changes will start now and will continue for years to come," said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. "It is a victory for the consumer."
The EU had found Microsoft guilty of using its monopoly status to control the software industry. The company had been fighting the EU ruling which required the release of information about Windows code to third party developers.
Microsoft failed to fully comply with the commission's requirements and was subsequently fines €500,000 in 2004, and €280.5 million in 2006. While the commission has no plans to impose additional fines now, it is keeping that as an option should Microsoft fail to remain in compliance with the rulings.
Observer Comments
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
The EU Rules Against Microsoft! - (Why do we even bother?)
From ZDNet:
"Microsoft suffered a stunning defeat on Monday when a European Union court backed a European Commission ruling that the U.S. software giant illegally abused its market power to crush competitors.
The European Union's second-highest court dismissed the company's appeal on all substantive points of the 2004 antitrust ruling."
I must restrain myself here..... (or so the lawyers say):
My opinions of European governments, laws, culture, socialist dogma, infrastructure, deodorants, styles and stupidity are well known. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-european, I am just against stupidity! Whether it comes from Apple, IBM or the EU Competition Commission.
How can we stop people from buying our products?
How can we cease to be a monopoly when our customers make us that?
If we are put in a position of dominance, shouldn't we dominate?
Shouldn't we crush the small companies which threaten what our customers clearly want,- US?
"Microsoft must now comply fully with its legal obligations to desist from engaging in anticompetitive conduct. The Commission will do its utmost to ensure that Microsoft complies swiftly," - Neelie Kroes (EU greasy lawyer) said in a statement.
Hey Neelie! "Neelie", lol, What cha' gonna do if I just close down all of our operations over there?
That would solve a lot of our problems, wouldn't it?
You would no longer have to worry about MS and we would no longer have to worry about guys like you constantly whining and sucking us dry!
I'm gonna give this option some serious thought. Who needs that funny pink, green and blue money of you people's anyways?
Just thinking out loud.
They still are having problems delivering the documentation for how their protocols actually work, even after 3 years.
And yes, if MS decided to give up the multi-billion dollar Euro market, they would have short term pain. BUT, I would bet it wouldn't last a year, as then other vendors would have a chance to compete on a much more level playing field.
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