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.'"

Comments

A chilling phrase if you're MS

[Space cowboy]

It is essential to have a precedent which will establish clear principles for the future conduct of a company with such a strong dominant position in the market.

Steve Balmer rushed over in a last-ditch attempt to try and come to a deal, but the commissioner apparently demanded even-tougher remedies if a negative precedent was not to be set...

The fine is expected to be between 67 million UK pounds, and 670 million UK pounds . Ouch. That's a fair old amount of latitude in the range, but even MS would presumably rather not pay a billion-dollar fine. I know their cash reserves are up in the 40 billion dollar range, but even so it has to hurt. I'd expect the commission to fine them again if they don't do as they're told, as well....

Simon

Re:A chilling phrase if you're MS

[mapmaker]

Anyone following investment advice on Slashdot would have to be insane. Case in point: SCO.

Huh? SCO's stock (SCOX) has fallen more than 50% in the last 3 months. Everyone here on Slashdot knew long ago that SCO's claims were bogus and were likely a pump-n-dump scheme by SCO execs. The investing public took much longer to figure that out. Anyone who followed the advice given here has made a very tidy profit on SCOX.

Additionally, the parent post's comment (which has been modded as funny) about shorting MSFT was also sound. MSFT is down almost 2% today.

The best place to find insightful information about tech companies is places where tech-knowledgable people talk. Like Slashdot.

And he is well backed

[MrIrwin]

This is not an outspoken opinion either. Member states have been unanimous on this and Monty has tried all ways to come to a comprise. The EU know what they are up against and have bullet proofed thier position against drawn out appeals.

This could be more fun than the SCO fiasco....Bill, open the file marked JudgementDay.pif :-)

Re:Good job EU!

[Creepy Crawler]

Do you not understand what China is doing right now???

1: They're making their own X86 compatible chip called Dragonballz (or whatever silly name it is). They're around 500MHz or so..

2: They're eradicating Windows in the govt and replacing it with Red Flag Linux. Chinese-ified Red Hat.

3: Getting their country more self-sufficient in everything...

No it is still bad for them

[codepunk]

1. A appeal request does not have to be granted.
2. A appeal does not guarantee that the restrictions being placed on them will not be imposed while the appeal is running.

Speaking of sentiments...

[ControlFreal]

... There seems to be a good amount of "they-are-all-out-to-get-us" sentiment in the parent's remark. Let's put some things in perspective here:

You see, courts in Europe have this strange idea that they are there to enforce the law and protect consumers. To make matters more absurd, they choose to stick to their principles even if large companies are involved. Strange, huh? ;)

And now the facts: the EU will, and has done so numerous times in the past, also punish European companies if they break antitrust laws. A complete list of antitrust cases from 1964 is here. And to give a nice example: in the cases so far in 2004, all of the listed companies are European.

That goes to show you.

Re:the double standard

[SlashDread]

You are sadly getting caught up in a typical USsian anti-EU mentality.

- Its De Beers, not DuBeers. Get your names straight. It does not bode well for the rest of your arguments.
- De Beers is founded and largely still operates from South Africa, not the EU.
- The MS EU show is about misuse, NOT -having- a monopoly, please show how DE Beers misuses their monopoly, and how this is "magnitudes worse" for WE, the people, then MS'ses -proven- misuse.

Thanks

"/Dread"

Re:Ding Dong the Witch is Dead..

[insomaniac]

I (as a dutchman) call bullshit on that, Clinton was a popular US president here in .nl. Sure we made american jokes, but those where on the same level as belgian jokes, which means they wheren't serious at all. Bush has been the worst PR your country has had in quite some time. He makes your country look like a t-rex with the brain that goes with it...

Re:It's about time.

[sepluv]

They are not stopping them from competing. Just from expanding their monpoly using illegal means, blackmailing, bribing &c... Read the artciles and info on the EU website.