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Microsoft Set To Be Fined $2.4M a Day
Nexum writes "The BBC is reporting on a European Union threat to fine Microsoft up to $2.4m a day for their non-compliance with the European Commission's demand that Windows be opened up. Back in March 2004 Microsoft was ordered to open up its Windows operating system by way of making documentation available that would assist work on interoperability with other systems, specifically: 'non-Microsoft work group servers [should be able to] achieve full interoperability with Windows PCs and servers'. According to the article, Brussels has found MS to have not complied with the ruling, and, sounding somewhat exasperated, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has given MS a 5 week deadline before the $2.4m/a day fines begin."
Okay, now that we have established that we should fine companies for their monopolistic practices, who's next? Airbus? Itunes? Wine & Cheese? And if Microsoft refuses to pay the fine? What could they possibly do? They can't uninstall Windows.
They should have a caption contest for that photo of Bill Gates.
Mine would be: SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE!
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
So does this mean that I can declare myself a sovereign entity and leverage fines on Microsoft too? I mean, just because they've been around for years before me doesn't mean that I can't make some new laws for my new governing body and then fine the hell out of them!
Seriously though, the EU has no credibility at all, and I don't see why America and companies put up with so much crap from them.
I hate Microsoft just as much as the next guy, but come on. The US needs to start fining France I guess now for legalizing file sharing. Let's fine China manufacturers cause they are exporting too many goods.
Let's fine European car manufacturers $5 million/day because their steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car.
This isn't a problem with the OS not playing well as much as it is a political response because they don't like losing a ton of money on exports toward a piece of software they don't feel is worth it.
There are about 100 OSs out there. Are they going to fine all of the ones that don't have a "feature" or documentation that they don't like? What's next? Applications? If Windows doesn't let you do something that is important for your group, THEN DON'T USE IT!
My question would be this, Why should they have to comply? The EU is not an open source only market. While I do have a distain for M$ in many areas, the fact that they are a closed source company isn't one of them. Fact is, M$ is closed source and always has been. It's not like they were open and just recently said "Ah the hell with it" and closed the doors on the code. The EU knew this going in and are now trying to strongarm a company into doing what it wants. Sounds like political terrorism to me.
Any company that wants certain features in any application that they pay for normally has a few choices. They can pay the maker of the software to develope the compatability they need, in which the software maker can still say no, or they can hire developers to try and do what they need. Why does the EU think that they are special? Keep in mind folks, they arn't looking for this as a way to help the citizens of the EU, it's to help fix a problem with the EU's governmental systems.
To me it's kinda like a large group adopts Candy Company X's candy bar as their official snack. The said large groups wants chocolate sprinkles on the candy bar for whatever reason. They ask Candy Company X to do so and for the same price, and CC X says no. So rather then just add the sprinkles themselves, they sue the candy company to get their way. It's a load of crap.
Keep in mind folks that even as closed as M$'s software is, there are a ton of security issues. Now force them to open things up and what do you think you will get? A global nightmare. An the, "well, guess you shouldn't use such a flawed system" excuse from other OS zelots isn't going to cut it. Like it or not, you will be affected. What do you think your banks use, the transit systems, governments and so on. Like it or not, the world mostly runs on M$. Untill that changes, no one is exempt.
Trying to be different, just like everyone else.
The EU is just trying to hurt the US economy by hurting the largest American company.
The EU is trying to hurt General Electric? First time I've heard of it, but if you say so . . .
But, okay. I'll bite. You've piqued my curiosity: What does GE have to do with Microsoft?
The Internet is generally stupid
That is the whole point. And no, American companies do not have to obey foreign laws if they do business there... they choose to. If they do not choose to, there are a couple of options: 1) pay the price, 2) use strongarm tactics, or 3) get out. I think that when it comes to stupid crap like this... numbers 2 and 3 or the better options. For all I care, we could just become a bunch of isolationists... and it would be fine by me. If I recall correctly, that is what gave America the advantage over Europe in the first place... having better resources. It would sure impact the oil industry (and we have plenty of oil in the U.S.... we are just waiting till it dries up everywhere else...).
Politics, Life, and More on my Aspiring for the Future
Uh, this is the typical socialist response to calling governemtn regulation captialism. It is a load of B.S.
Politics, Life, and More on my Aspiring for the Future
I mean, subscribe to MSDN or log into Microsoft's Knowledge base. It's all there. Maybe not spelled out phonetically as the technology challenged EU seems to imply is necessary when trying to understand technology.
If I was MS, I would tell them to go screw themselves. Does Apple provide full disclosure of how to interoperate with their servers? I have yet to find a decent Windows tool that allows me to access Apple's HFS+ file system as easly as Apple offers NTFS access. Also, through Apple I can more easily connect to a Windows machine then I can from Windows to an Apple computer. Seems to me that at least Apple has figured out how to interface with Window's networks properly.
What is left is all the Linux and Unix gurus that probably are more intimately familiar with Windows networking then even Windows software developers. They are, after all, mimicking everying Microsoft does in an effort to make the Linux platform user friendly.
Lastly, consdering that 90%+ of the machines out there are running Windows, why should MS bend over backwards so the other 10% can more easily communicate with them.
Someone should sue the EU for being just plain idiots when it comes to their constant bias against MS. I guess MS didn't given them a big enough discount on bulk licenses for Windows, so now the EU is all bent out of shape about Windows.
What I think MS should do, simply, is pull Windows off the shelves in Europe. Lets see how quickly Europeans scream to the EU to drop their constant barage of lawsuits against MS and let them be able to choose which OS they prefer to run once again without government interference.
Finally, MS should charge EU with slander as the EU isn't targetting other platforms for the EXACT SAME issues MS is being charged with. Apple comes pre-installed with Safari, media and contact management. Linux comes installed with countless gnu sharware, whether you want them or not. Windows offers a fairly decent media player and suddenly they are the only evil company out there? Get real. If EU doesn't start applying the same restraints on Apple and Linux distros, then its fair game for MS to counter-sue for bias and prejudice.
I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.