Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft turns to U.S. for EU Antitrust Help

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the but-daaaaaaaaaaad dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The NY times reports that Microsoft has asked U.S. goverment officials to intervene on their behalf in the EU antitrust case. The US (through diplomatic channels) has asked the court to be 'fair'." From the article: "Microsoft has complained frequently in recent months that it has been denied the right to a fair defense in the continuing antitrust case with the European Commission. It has also accused the commission of collaborating with its rivals in the software industry and denying it access to what it contends are vital documents it needs to prepare its defense. A memo written by unidentified government officials in Washington stated that Microsoft's complaints raise 'substantial concerns' about the way Microsoft is being treated, according to a person close to the commission who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the memo."

18 of 333 comments (clear)

  1. Bill Gates declares EU "Axis of Evil" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Asks GWB to help win their hearts and minds with an arial bombardment.

    1. Re:Bill Gates declares EU "Axis of Evil" by andrewbaldwin · · Score: 5, Funny

      with an arial bombardment. That's OK then -- for a moment I was worried it would be Times New Roman ;-)

    2. Re:Bill Gates declares EU "Axis of Evil" by dtsazza · · Score: 4, Funny

      They're obviously holding back the big guns then - they could do a lot worse... :)

      --
      My, that was a yummy potato!
    3. Re:Bill Gates declares EU "Axis of Evil" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      He could respond in kind by preventing Rolls-Royce engines from being ordered for the Joint Strike Fighter.

      Oh wait...

    4. Re:Bill Gates declares EU "Axis of Evil" by Orion+Blastar · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah Microsoft is really the Times New Roman Empire. I think they want to use the US as a Courier to knock out the Wingdings in the EU.

      --
      Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.
    5. Re:Bill Gates declares EU "Axis of Evil" by S.O.B. · · Score: 5, Funny

      As long as he doesn't try to fight a war on two fonts.

      --
      Some of what I say is fact, some is conjecture, the rest I'm just blowing out my ass...you guess.
    6. Re:Bill Gates declares EU "Axis of Evil" by sdsichero · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh you guys are just a font of knowledge...

  2. Unfair treatment of a US corporation... by VendettaMF · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Yeah, they've outlawed buying off their legislature, so we're having to work in the back channels to get our decision barged through, but half the time these guys ain't even speakin fuckin English, so we're being blocked out from the bribery channels unfairly..."

    I can see how that might be an issue.

    --
    kartune85 : Incapable of reason, observation or learning. A kind of dim, drab, flightless parrot.
  3. everyone against MS by leuk_he · · Score: 3, Funny

    It has also accused the commission of collaborating with its rivals in the software industry
    You would get paranoid too if everyone is against you.

    -- AC because everyone is against me.

  4. From the Article by Orrin+Bloquy · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying, 'I'm gonna fuckin' kill(R) Europe!' It's the final countdown!"

    --
    "Made up/misattributed quote that makes me look smart. I am on /. and I must look smart."
    1. Re:From the Article by Scarletdown · · Score: 3, Funny

      So, I take it he has developed ICBCs? (Inter-Continental Ballistic Chairs)

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
  5. Re:unidentified, anonymity, denials. by homerules · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or they are already under contract.

    --
    Get a FREE Sony PS3
  6. ward of the state? by vulpes_fulva · · Score: 2, Funny

    What??? Is Microsoft now a ward of the state??

  7. Re:Microsoft's complaints raise 'substantial conce by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, you take Microsofts money for it, just like that.

  8. Re:unidentified, anonymity, denials. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "... according to a person close to the commission who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the memo."

    "... said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the tenuous nature of the matter."

    Meanwhile, some nerd in a geeky news site posted a comment that reads "I, for one, welcome our new anonymous overlords". The dork posted on the condition of anonymity because he is such a coward.

  9. Re:Dupe - Judge said NO? by ultranova · · Score: 2, Funny

    And if you think about it, the "E" in EU is for Europe which is not a part of the U.S. that last time I looked.

    Except the E that is for England.

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  10. Re:Microsoft's complaints raise 'substantial conce by Pollardito · · Score: 2, Funny

    i think it was a typo, here :

    A memo written by unidentified government officials in Washington stated that addressing Microsoft's complaints could result in 'substantial donations'

  11. Re:unidentified, anonymity, denials. by ThePilgrim · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actrually its verry easy to buy polititions in Europe. Its just that once baught they stay baught. I thing they call it integrity :-)

    --
    Wouldn't it be nice if schools got all the money they wanted and the army had to hold jumble sales for guns