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EU Fines Microsoft $613 Million, Officially
Decaffeinated Jedi writes "As reported by CNN.com, the European Union has hit Microsoft with a record US$613 million fine after a five-year investigation, finding the company guilty of abusing the 'near-monopoly' of the Windows operating system. Microsoft has been given 90 days to make a European version of Windows available without a media player and 120 days to give programming codes to rivals in the server market to allow 'full interoperability' with desktops running Windows. Microsoft plans to appeal the decision." Other readers point to coverage at
the BBC, ZDNet, Reuters (here carried by Yahoo!), and abc.au.net.
poor SCO lawyers might have to take a pay cut now. :(
$613 Million? Shouldn't that be 496,796,042 euro?
I'd make the stripped down version, and only sell it direct via snail mail order. </EVIL>
WMP?! 'Weapons of Mass Production'
They should all be banned!
sig mind freed
"Steve Balmer commented, that the fine imposed by the EU is completely unreasonble, considering that you can buy a president in the US with much less.".
"There is a terrorist behind every bush"
It took them forEVER to decide, do you think this bureaucratic behemoth (which i love and cherish) will be able to change course and reverse its decision? I am thinking not.
500 Million here, 500 Million there, before you know it you're talkin' about some real money.
Let's hope that the APIs that are published reveal as much embarrassing nerdy amateurism in MS as the release of undocumented APIs in previous versions of Windows. Who can forget the function names BEAR35, BUNNY73, PIGLET12 and the classic PRESTOCHANGOSELECTOR?
but will Microsoft try to use cupons, or "donate" software to schools, thus locking in more Microsoft users from a young age?
This just in: MS will pay the fine in SCO licenses...
A friend of mine (in the UK) got a speeding fine. He found an old local by-law that said he could pay the fine in live chickens, to the equivalent value.
Hilarity ensued, of course.
The right in Europe want their own monopolies to succeed, not an American monopoly.
"Seriously, look at the stocks and see who turned upward when it was becoming clear just who we'd have in the whitehouse." OK, seriously, enough of this knee jerk pigeon brain shit already! I'm mean you'd think to listen to some of you people that GWB burned your fucking toast this morning, because he's in league with the "Big Toaster" manufacturing businesses. I swear you people are such retards sometimes, now look I know that GWB isn't perfect, but some of you mindless anti-Bush types would like to blame him for stubbing your toe on your sofa.
Bill Gates was quoted as saying "Well, there goes my pocket change. Gotta hit an ATM sometime today."
If you check the transcripts of the court proceedings, you were cited 213 times, 215 if you count references to "Worlds Most Installingest QuickTime Proponent". Your efforts are not in vain my friend, not in vain at all.
Within 120 days Microsoft is required "to disclose complete and accurate interface documentation
The real hangup here is that this means they'll have to *write* it, not just release it.
but the election of President Bush put an end to that.
/immense sarcasm
Yes, and president Bush is the reason people have to die. and why this world is not peaceful. and why people get fat. and why people starve. and why people commit crimes. and why I just stubbed my toe.
I HATE HIM!
There are, admittedly, some crazy people out there who think that all the wrongs in the world are the fault of Mr. Bush.
:)
The more rational elements of the left repudiate these people, and appologise for their claims. All the wrongs in the world are not, in fact, the fault of President Bush.
But the overwhelming majority are
Killfile(TGK)
No trees were killed in the creation of this post. However, many electrons were inconvenienced.
"without a media player and 120 days to give programming codes to rivals in the server market"
If your worried about what media player you have on your servers, you shouldn't be in charge of these servers in the first place.
TruePunk | Games
Yes, but we have it surrounded!
Yeah, well, we thought it would be polite to wait for those guys across the pond to finish their go first. Terribly nice people, us Brits. :o)
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Breakfast served all day!