Microsoft Threatened With Fines By EU Again

ukhackster writes "The EC is threatening Microsoft with yet more fines. This time, it's over the interoperability protocols that Microsoft has been ordered to open up to its rivals. The EC has examined 1,500 pages of information about the protocols, and concluded that they 'lack significant innovation'. This is pretty damning for both Microsoft and the patent system, as it has been awarded 36 patents covering this technology and has another 37 pending. Could this encourage someone like the EFF to start pushing to get these patents overturned? The EU has a FAQ about this issue, containing additional details on the subject.

Comments

There's a similar story written by AP....

[8127972]

.... That you can read here: http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/187051

Note this quote from the above story:

"This is a company which apparently does not like to have to conform with antitrust decisions," said EU Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd.

Next they'll be saying that the sky is blue and fish swim. Thanks for stating the obvious.

Re:Please explain

[EveryNickIsTaken]

I'm curious as to how the EU would go about collecting the fine. Wait, let me guess.. the World Court? No wonder Microsoft feels no need to comply with their requests.

Re:This is about pricing

[Anonymous Coward]

How does the ec know what is innovative or not?
 
Maybe they actually read the documents?

Re:Don't conflate interface with implementation

[Coryoth]

innovation isn't going to be present in the mere API spec. Do you know how innovatively obfuscated and difficult to reverse engineer those API specs are? Obviously not, because you've never seen them, but if you did...

Re:Yay for eu while U.S. senate sucks up to big bu

[flyingfsck]

What? Something of value happened outside the US borders? That is absurd.