Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft's EU Appeal is Ready

Posted by Hemos on from the the-battle-smolders-on dept.

psic writes "According to techworld, Microsoft plans on lodging its official appeal to the European Commission concerning the EC's decision to fine the software giant 497.2 million euros, as well as forcing them to open up part of the code of Windows, "so other products could interoperate with it better". It's taken Microsoft a couple of months, but their appeal is ready. One interesting thing is the fact that an appeal will take at least three years to conclude. But the decision of the EC might just come into effect very soon, regardless of Microsoft's appeal."

7 of 150 comments (clear)

  1. parking meter money by Whitecloud · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I dont know about you, but if someone tried to fine me 497.2 million i would be happy to wait three more years before paying.

    --

    Do you need a website upgrade?

  2. and the winner is.... by millahtime · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The lawyers who manipulate this system of constant appeals.

    --
    Evolution or ID?
  3. Re:This is great by blueZhift · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not only that, but this can be good for Microsoft too in the long run because it will force them to compete. Even the best intentioned companies can put out rubbish when they don't have the gun of competition to their heads.

    --
    To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
  4. 3years ? by Ploum · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, in 2007 they will produce a Windows XP without Media Player. But who will buy WinXP in 2007 ?

    This is just the time for launching LongHorn ! (and it will be bundled with Duke Nukem Forever)

    And in 2012 they will release a light-Longhorn version without ExtraDRMizedMediaPlayer. Oh wait, 2012 is the date they will launch Microsoft Windows Interface, a really cool new Desktop Manager for the Linux 4.0 kernel.

    Tsss... 3 years in computer science is like thousand years of history...

    --
    Ploum.net.
  5. Alternetive players by bcmm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is there going to be anything to stop Microsoft associating media files with a little program that says something like: "You do not have Windows Media Player installed. Windows Media Player is required to view media. Click here to download Windows Media Player."?

    Then all the normal users would still use WMP.

    --
    # cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i llama
    Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
  6. In other news by 91degrees · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A key figure at Microsoft was found guilty of Murder. The justice department realised that a prison sentence would limit his freedom of movement, so in a last minute deal arranged by Microsoft's lawyers they agreed that the murderer would not use bladed weapons or bullets to attack people.

    I don't know why the argument about how this will harm Microsoft is getting any time at all. Surely that's the entire point of a large fine!

  7. Quite right too! by Bralkein · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "But the decision of the EC might just come into effect very soon, regardless of Microsoft's appeal."
    Yeah, and damn good thing too! I don't see why the rulings that were made didn't just come into effect right away. I don't really know much about legal proceedings and such, but I'm pretty sure that if a fellow gets convicted of murder or whatever and sent to prison, he isn't just allowed to say "OMG NO FAIR I APPEAL MAN" and then he can walk free for three years until his appeal comes back.

    The way I see it, Microsoft should simply have to comply right away. Then, if they want to lodge an appeal claim, then they are perfectly entitled to do so. If they win, they get their fine back with interest, as well as compensation for any money lost due to the other rulings. Maybe, as they say, once their systems are openly documented they cannot simply be UN-documented if they are found to be innocent. Then again, if a jailed man is found to be innocent, his lost time can't just be given back. That's the way the law works, and it needs to be the same for everyone!