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EU Gives Microsoft 8 Days Until Fines

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the can-we-reposess-something-shiny-and-expensive dept.

kaysan writes "European Commissioner Neelie Kroes has presented Microsoft with an ultimatum: Before Thursday next week, Microsoft must hand over all secret information on Windows protocols to its competition. Should the company choose to ignore this demand, it will be severely fined. Microsoft's history with EU fines so far amounts to approximately Euro777.5 million. Both linked websites are Dutch, but then again, so is EU commissioner Neelie Kroes."

6 of 537 comments (clear)

  1. MS gives EU 8 days until no Windows by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Bill Gates responded "Okay, we'll just use our auto-update feature to turn off all Windows copies in every EU country. Hope you all know how to install Linux, fuckers!"

    -Eric

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. potentiial conflict of interest... by krell · · Score: 5, Funny

    " so is EU commissioner Neelie Kroes."

    But what about his cousin Mie Kroes Offt?

    --
    Where were you when the voynix came?
  3. The reply from Microsoft... by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Funny

    next week, Microsoft must hand over all secret information on Windows protocols to its competition.

          But, but, your honour - we don't HAVE any competition...!

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  4. Re:I know how Microsoft can score BIG here . . . by Slashcrap · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even if the EU were more economically powerful than it is, I doubt that it could afford option #2

    Before assuming that the EU is a relatively insignificant part of Microsoft's market which they could easily do without, you may want to work out the total population of the EU. Then calculate what percentage of the developed World's population (i.e. the people who actually pay for expensive operating systems and office software) it makes up.

    Of course, being American you will probably first want to find an atlas and work out what country the EU is in.

  5. Why increasing the pressure? by janwedekind · · Score: 2, Funny

    N. Kroes answer (according to Volkskrant article): "I don't have the immortal life."

  6. Re:English article by CaymanIslandCarpedie · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm tired of this chic always complaining for more documentation. Anyone want to pitch in with me to just bite the bullet and buy here a MSDN and Technet subscription?

    --
    "reality has a well-known liberal bias" - Steven Colbert