EU Finds Microsoft Guilty Of Abusing Monopoly

cabalamat2 writes "The European Commission's draft report on Microsoft says they are guilty of abusing their monopoly position. The ruling proposes that Microsoft be fined; the amount of the fine will be decided in March or April, and the maximum fine permitted is 10% of Microsoft's global turnover, about $3.2bn. Microsoft are allowed to appeal against any judgement that goes against them, to the Court of First Instance, and it's expected they will do so, to drag out the process as long as possible."

Comments

But monopolies that encourage slavery are ok

[eht]

For some reason Microsoft whose only real crime is too much capitalism while DeBeers's monopolistic practices encourage slavery and for real wars.

Wake me up in 2007

[etymxris]

When Microsoft will have finished their appeals. By that time, they will have already crushed the competitors whose misfortunes initiated this inquiry. Furthermore, new anti-trust violations will be pending on new behavior, which will not be settled for another few years.

Late justice may as well be no justice. The courts of the US and EU need to find a way to act more swiftly in such matters.

Re:Wake me up in 2007

[SpaceLifeForm]

Hey, give the EU some credit. At least they are imposing a penalty.

Re:Wake me up in 2007

[etymxris]

Hey, give the EU some credit. At least they are imposing a penalty.

Yes, I agree, this is commendable. But I seem to remember a much more severe judgement being handed down several years ago--the splitting of the company. Unfortunately, that did not survive appeal. While the current judgement is a good sign, it means nothing until the appeals have been fully resolved.

Who gets the money?

[Dr. Bent]

What I want to know is, if they do get fined $3.2 billion, who gets it? I suppose the lawyers will get thier cut before anyone else, but what are they going to do with the $2 or $3 million left after that?

So

[wizarddc]

If they appeal, and lose, do they also have to pay interest on their fine? They were found guilty of abusing this power now, so if they drag it out 3-5 years, do they have to pay back interest on that 3.2 billion? Wouldn't that be a deterent for the long, dragged out cases? If they have to pay a few years of coupounded interest, they might not be so lawyer happy.

This is NOT off-topic

[DesScorp]

Zealots are modding this guy down, but he's got a good point. While everyone wants to see Microsoft brought to heel, why is Europe so hot on monopolies now, when DeBeers has had one enforced through blood and terror for decades?

The answer, I suspect, has less to do with justice than the feeling that MS is harming Europe's native software industries.