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EU Expands Microsoft Inquiry

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the remember-GE-and-Honeywell dept.

Space cowboy writes "The European Commission is expanding its investigation into whether Microsoft has engaged in anti-competitive practices - now it's not just the browser bundling, but also bundling of audio-visual components (such as Windows Media Player). " There's also a Reuters report - what is worth noting, tho', is that the basis for this investigation is in the market for small servers - *not* the desktop market, from what I can see/read. '

3 of 301 comments (clear)

  1. Focus on the server market consolidates support by hillct · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The EU's focus on Microsoft's entry into the small server maket seems like it will have the effect of causing the case to recieve solid corporate support within Europe, sich that the EU will have to pursue the issue to fruition, rather than in the US where focus on the case focusing on the desktop market has recieved more fragmented consumer support. Let this be a lesson to the DOJ. When going after big companies, always identify the customer base most likely to support you in a unified way, and try the case with that focus. Granted this doesn't say much for the justice system, but that's how the world works... sadly...

    --CTH

    --

    --Got Lists? | Top 95 Star Wars Line
  2. The big difference between the US & EU cases by jd · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The European Union, according to CNN, can only fine Microsoft. They cannot exact any punishment to prevent future abuses. Further, the greatest fine they can impose is 10% of the revenue from Europe.


    In short, Microsoft doesn't NEED to give a damn about the verdict. 10% of what they earn in Europe is probably less than the day-to-day changes in their share price value.


    All in all, this is a show-trial (the EU wants to go "free/open" and this is a great excuse for a public flogging to justify it), but where Microsoft is probably more than happy to provide the show.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  3. Re:Ludicrous... Maybe not... by PygmySurfer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe if Real Player wasn't an obtrusive, annoying piece of Spyware, it would be installed on more desktops.

    I refuse to install it, for several reasons.

    1. It's intrusive - you have to enter your email address, postal code, etc.
    2. It slows your system down with all the crap it loads (ie StartCenter)
    3. It crashes constantly. And when StartCenter is enabled, it causes the system to crash constantly. I don't know how many times I've had people in the office complain about their computers crashing all the time, which I remedied by removing StartCenter.

    Instead of whining about MS' bundling practices, perhaps Real should work on improving their product, and removing some of the Spyware components from it.

    After all, I don't use Windows Media Player for MP3s. Winamp does that quite nicely.