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."

Comments

What a bunch of crap

[TigerTime]

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!

EU should RTFM

[TheSkepticalOptimist]

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.