Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft and EU Talks End
Paul Longford writes "Microsoft talks with the EC have collapsed. The competition commisioner Mario Monti just made this statement in which he said: 'I'd just like to inform you that a settlement on the Microsoft case has not been possible. I therefore intend to propose to my colleagues in the Commission next Wednesday to adopt a decision, which has already received the unanimous backing of Member States.' This is bad news for Microsoft - it looking at a considerable fine and possibly being forced to open up Windows. It looks like it will be a harsh decision too. Monti says: 'In the end, I had to decide what was best for competition and consumers in Europe. I believe they will be better served with a decision that creates a strong precedent.'"
Sounds like the EU is going to show some spine and actually ENFORCE their antitrust laws. What a concept.
Send lawyers, guns, and money. Dad, get me out of this.
Look like Microsoft will get the predicted 10% fine (of annual global sales) and removal of WMP from Windows. Bring on the competition...
MS contributes a lot of money to both US political parties.. Europe may need "liberating" soon..
even MS would presumably rather not pay a billion-dollar fine. I know their cash reserves are up in the 40 billion dollar range
Quick! Short Microsoft!
This sound investment advice bought to you by slashdot.
Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
Sure they have a plan! First they'll send troops across the border wearing fake uniforms, then .. oh wait, wrong plan.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
And sadly, that will make slashdot redundant.
Stop support of European languages? Where do you think English comes from, eh?? Doh!!
You forgot No spelchekker.
Yeah! I was totally unaware of Microsoft's anti-competitive monopolistic behavior until this ruling. All my friends were shocked as well.
Let's hope it will have a little more impact on Microsoft's business practices than the last judgment
"There are already a million monkeys on a million typewriters, and Usenet is NOTHING like Shakespeare." - Blair Houghton
How outrageous! The USA has of course never tried to influence how business is done outside it's borders.
When you are sure of something, you probably are wrong (search for "Unskilled and Unaware of It").
If revenue starts drying up, then perhaps they will be forced to stop such excesses as funding SCO.
Steve Balmer rushed over in a last-ditch attempt to try and come to a deal
That is probably what made things collapse. I can see the EU report now...
"After negotiations broke down between us and Microsoft, the current CEO, Steve Ballmer, decided to get personally involved. However, he simply arrived, and jumped up and down chanting like a prick".
It's no surprise that the talks ended. Here's a rough transcript of the proceedings that I was able to smuggle out of Brussels:
Monty: Microsoft, we're going to levy heavy penalties for your past behavior.
MS: Now, wait here: let's compromise.
Monty: Okay, let's here it.
MS: How about you don't levy heavy penalties for our past behavior.
Monty: [silence]
MS: Well?
Monty: Heavier fines.
- The Amazina Llama
ONLY anti-monopoly journal in America.
:)
Doesn't that make them a monopoly on anti-monopoly journals?
Fellowship 9/11
We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds,
We shall fight in the fields, and in the streets,
We shall fight in the hills;
Sounds like our last family vacation.
Mmmm.. Donuts
And that is different how?
warning: This post is likely to contain gobs of dripping sarcasm. Consume at your own risk.
Microsoft should be forced to release ALL source code and documentation for EVERY product they released during the company's existance under the GPL. They should be forced to give all their assets to the Free Software Foundation. Microsoft should be forced to shut down. And Bill Gates should be forced to give Linus Torvalds all of his personal assets, and work for Linus as a janitor. And pigs should be forced to grow wings and fly.