EU Fines for Microsoft Approved, Off the Record

mattaw writes "The Register is carrying a report that all 25 member states of the EU have found Microsoft guilty of non-compliance, off the record. Microsoft is in line for a fine of $2.51 million per day backdated to December 15th 2004 for failing to meet the terms of the EU commission's ruling."

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Re:good for the EU

[Anonymous Coward]

You have got to be kidding. Microsoft is the only one _you_ see on the news probably. The EU is very strict on this sort of things. Have a look at the EU vs Alitalia or the EU vs Olympic Airlines, or the EU vs BMW and GM. The EU even goes against its own country members if they fail to comply with EU law. No matter how people want to see it, microsoft is not the innocent victim here...

[Offtopic]Congrats to Italy for Barrying Germany 'Squadra Azzurra' Style! I hope you guys lift the cup in the end![/offtopic]

Re:so?

[Xiroth]

Well, they'd have to break a treaty to do so, so I doubt they'd be willing.

That's as far as I can tell, anyway - admittedly my knowledge on internation politics isn't crash hot.

Re:so?

[GreyPoopon]

So ... do you think Microsoft has gathered all it's employees and instructed them to collectively deceive the public ?

No, it's more like Microsoft HASN'T gathered its employees to clearly document interfaces in compliance with the EU ruling.

You can find info on Microsoft's Communication Protocols here

I believe the EU (and Microsoft competitors) already responded to that. The documentation isn't clear enough, and conveniently leaves out many hidden details that continue to provide Microsoft with a competitive advantage.

There's also a program which gives access to source code specifically trying to appease the EU here

And if you read the pages behind the link you provided, you'll see very clearly that the program has ROYALTIES attached to it. It would be acceptable to charge a reasonable one-time fee for technical documentation, but ROYALTIES??

I mean it's pretty hard for Microsoft to defend themselves in this circumstance, where the group they are in dispute with is also the judge and jury.

Not really true. The "judge and jury" has only become part of the dispute because Microsoft has failed to comply with their previous judgement.

Have you thought perhaps maybe just maybe the EU has decided it'd like a slice of Microsoft war chest and has just decided it'll make up whatever excuse and take some.

Have you considered that Microsoft is, as usual, trying to get away with the appearance of compliance while at the same time continuing to milk their own cash cow?