EU Trade Commissioner Enjoyed MS Hospitality

Brian Blessed writes "Today's edition of The Times contains a report that Peter Mandelson, the EU (European Union) Trade Commissioner, spent New Year's Eve as a guest of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, in the Carribean on Mr Allen's luxury yacht. The story mentions the conflict of interest that this causes because of the protracted legal battle between Microsoft and the European Commission. Perhaps the Trade Commissioner has also been in a position to influence the progress of European Software Patent legislation?"

Comments

Perception vs reality.

[winkydink]

Although Mr Allen is no longer directly involved in the management of Microsoft, he remains its second biggest shareholder. There is no suggestion that Mr Mandelson has broken the Commission's code of conduct.

As a rule, rihc and powerful people tend to hang out with other rich and powerful people. I suspect this is more about giving the appearance of impropriety rather than any impropriety itself. Political opponents will try to make hay from this.

Re:Perception vs reality.

[Zebadias]

the appearance of impropriety Mr Mandelson's record is not exactly stirling. He has been sacked from the goverment 2 times!

Re:Perception vs reality.

[nganju]

Even if Paul Allen is not involved in the management of Microsoft, as a large shareholder, he still gains a lot if Mr. Mandelson decides to go easy on Microsoft.

I don't see how Allen's lack of direct involvement in MS management makes this a non-conflict of interest. Allen still has every motive to make nice with Mandelson.

Proof Positive

[Yanray]

Well at least we have proof positive that U.S. polititians aren't the only dirty ones.

Eruope, our corporations thank EU....

[isotope23]

Ahhh the benefits of centralizing power. Now Microsoft only has to buy off a few flunkies in the EU as opposed to each former European country. Much better for business.

Re:Eruope, our corporations thank EU....

[isotope23]

Sheeple are Sheeple regardless of which side of the Ocean you are on. Eventually IMO we will have one world government.

I find it both sad and amazing that groups like the greens (which I believe have SOME valid points) rail about the corruption and power of corporations, yet their solution is to give more power to government. If you start with the premise that people are corruptable and power corrupts, how can you then endorse as a solution a greater concentration of power?

The end result is those with power will make deals between themselves to keep the power they have or to gain more.

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Let me be the first to say

[h. simpson]

This tastes like tinfoil to me. Paul Allen may be the second largest shareholder at Microsoft, but he's long since moved on from the Redmond giant.

I don't think it's a great idea for people like this to be enjoying the luxuries of other rich influential people at all, but I doubt this is a Microsoft specific thing.

This looks more improper than it truly is.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[downward dog]

You may be right that...

This looks more improper than it truly is.

...but your premise is wrong. Paul Allen may no longer be on Microsoft's payroll, but as their second largest shareholder, he is thoroughly invested in all of their business matters. Troubles with the EU? Paul Allen loses money. Happy times with the EU? Paul Allen makes money.

Re:Let me be the first to say

[Anonymous Coward]

In fact, Judge Scalia agreed with you when he got back from his last duck hunt.

Very nice..

[ackthpt]

There are those born with no shame. The rest of us suffer with our consciences.

Reminds me of former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, who had quite the large collection of priceless gems, for someone who got by on a mayor's salary. There was a reason Detroit kept getting worse and worse and it couldn't all be blamed on Ford, GM and Chrysler.

Isn't Paul Allen away from Microsoft? I thought he left the company and took his billions of $ to pursue his own dreams.

Re:Good old Mandy

[isotope23]

"Hoho, Mandelson never learns."
"who is actually now in his third senior political incarnation"

As exemplified in your own post I'd say the guy has learned quite well.

Re:Godbye Ethics , Hello luxuary cruise

[ScentCone]

Would we have had all this fuss if he'd had a nice lunch with Linus? A guy as powerful as this isn't going to be "bought" by the experience of staying on a nice boat for the weekend, or by the experience of Paul Allen's (no doubt stimulating - I'd like to meet him myself) company. The question is, can you point to the means by which the company in which Allen owns a lot of stock is going to have a "strangle hold" over the commission? In actual, practical, detailed, terms, what strangling mechanism is at play here? How does socializing among rich people induce force, etc., into the picture? If the guy's taking money from Allen or via Allen, don't you think that would stick out like a sore thumb?

I don't seem to recall the same reaction, say, in the US, when 99% of the entertainment industry's rich people invite elected officials to their yachts/homes/islands/etc for a week away. Or when European heads of state or key politicians are sitting down to extravagent meals together with the rich and famous throughout Europe. Let's face it: the only reason this is being shouted about as shocking here on slashdot is because the rich person in question has ties to Microsoft. If it was someone who owned a pile of stock in DaimlerChrysler, or Software AG, or BP, or Honda, no one would even have said a word.

Oh, and why exactly would you want a trade commissioner who doesn't have the ear, and doesn't hear from the people who back the largest companies, move around the biggest piles of money, and who are involved personally in the very trading activities that you're supposed to be understanding? A commissioner with no industry connections, or who only hangs out with the people running, say, labor unions, is going to be seriously naive, only have half the story, and definately be at odds with industry. Without those industries, there would be no point in talking about trade at all, let alone convening a commission to deal with it.

Paul Allen is out of Microsoft. Way out.

[Animats]

He left Microsoft in the 1980s. It's generally agreed that this was good for Microsoft. Allen's businesses since then, from Interval Research to the Experience Music Project to the Seattle Seahawks, along with a long list of little companies, have generally been flops. The phrase "the hell that is a Paul Allen company" is known in Silicon Valley.

You don't want to take a ride on his yacht. It might sink.