Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Fails to Comply With EU Requirements

Posted by Zonk on from the close-but-no-cigar dept.

sebFlyte writes "ZDNet is reporting the news that the EU has rejected Microsoft's attempt to wriggle out of it's legal obligation to open up Windows protocols. Microsoft was attempting to bypass the regulation by offering a license totally incompatible with the GPL and which has an absurdly high fee attached. If Microsoft don't come up with a solution that the EU finds acceptable, then they can be fined $5m a day. They've also got some commentary on why Microsoft's behaviour cannot be allowed to stand." The BBC has commentary as well.

6 of 609 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting.. by danheskett · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The little blurb posted makes it sound like the EU ordered MS to create a license that was compatible with the GPL.

    Is that the case? I can't find anything suggesting that the EU "named names" by saying the GPL or any specific license.

    Anyone have any more insight? Did the EU really order MS to be compatible in this regard with a specific license, or is this just a poorly worded writeup (or is it just me)?

  2. $1.8 billion a year is a lot of dough by tepples · · Score: 4, Interesting

    $1.8 billion a year would be a big boost to free software if an EU agency were to funnel it into free software development. That would anger Microsoft more than increasing the fine would.

  3. Re:Like Larry Flynt by Xner · · Score: 4, Interesting
    They can impose fines up to a certain percentage of gross. I have a feeling they still have some wiggle room to increase them if MS decides to play the "pay and carry on as usual" game.

    The EU is slow and undecisive, but like all huge burocratic institutions, once it gets moving it has a certain inertia.

    --
    Pathman, Free (as in GPL) 3D Pac Man
  4. and.... by commo1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The US Government should follow suit... no pun intended.

    Seriously, in the global economy, trade similarities are going to become more and more important, especially with the US economy taking a very important second place to the EU. They will have to comply to trade. The US is no longer the bully hey once were.

  5. Re:MS won't pay the fine - just watch. by sweatyboatman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Should the EU block MS from selling their OSes, you can bet that the commodity machine market will quickly switch over to alternative OSes.

    What's missing in wide-scale adoption of linux is a large commitment by retailers to sell and support Linux-based systems.

    The average user doesn't care if he/she's running windows or linux or OSX or Commodore64. They don't care if their browser is IE or Mozilla. They just want the computer to provide the tools they need.

    If they can browse the web, send emails, upload photos from their camera, and open files from work they'll be happy.

    In the short-run, there might be some headaches for consumers. But in the long-run the result would be a huge install base for linux/OSX.

    --
    It breaks my pluginses, my precious!
  6. Charles Foster Kane by IainHere · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Fining Microsoft a few million dollars reminds me of something Orson Welles said as Citizen Kane:


    You're right, I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars next year.

    You know, Mr. Thatcher, at the rate of a million dollars a year, I'll have to close this place - in 60 years.