Microsoft Gives In To the EU

An anonymous reader writes with word that Redmond Developer News is reporting that Microsoft has given in to EU threats of further fines. The company has opened up a whole host of protocols, including the Exchange protocol, under a license, the terms of which are not known. No other news outlet has picked up this story so far.

Comments

Don't be fooled

[EvilGoodGuy]

Microsoft isn't bowing down for nothing, this is all just the next step in their plan to buy the EU. Just watch, you heard it here first!

Re:Don't be fooled

[alexandreracine]

Actually, Bill is bowing down to dodge the chair of ... someone...

Re:Don't be fooled

[Anonymous Coward]

Are they starting by buying Poland?

Re:Don't be fooled

[fbjon]

No, they forgot.

Re:Don't be fooled

[Evilest Doer]

Are they starting by buying Poland?

Nah, first they'll buy the Sudetenland after spending months arguing that the Sudetenland has always been a part of Microsoft.

Announcement

[Anonymous Coward]

I would like to announce that I, Anonymous Coward, have also given in to threats from the Government and will be complying with local laws, subject to certain conditions that I don't yet choose to reveal. This is my latest claim to have complied with the laws that supposedly bind me. The many many previous times I've made similar claims, it has been nothing more than wordplay with no basis in reality but please don't allow that to distract you from treating this as Headline News. Just because I'm a serial liar doesn't mean I shouldn't be given the same respect and trust as everyone else. Thanks.

OMG - I was there! I was there!

[cliveholloway]

"No other news outlet has picked up this story so far"

Wow. I feel honored. I can now tell my grandkids when I'm old and crusty that I actually saw a peice of news that was posted first on Slashdot - as opposed to the usual way of things being recycled from Fark, Digg or CNET. Or worse, a Roland Pickadoor submission.

Is that a tear forming in the corner of my eye? Sniff.

Re:OMG - I was there! I was there!

[quarrel]

Not only is it breaking news here, but the link is to another news site with the coverage...

--Q

Re:Well goddammit make your own protocols

[DroversDog]

Mr Ballmer,

You are welcome to an account on Slashdot and don't have to be an AC.

For the record anyone can make their own protocols but unless we have some agreement then inter communication between different platforms would be impossible.

You see you'd end up with a monopoly otherwise if others weren't able to talk to your software.

I bet you didn't know THAT.

Regards

Re:Not Free

[JackMeyhoff]

Uhh ISO now fast tracks Microsoft submissions, havnt you heard? One good thing that MSFT is now pushing their standards, that forces Adobe to follow suit with their submissions. The great thing about standards is there is so many to choose from now :)

American Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys

[fantomas]

Those yanks. They roll over and surrender at the first whiff of fine cheese :-)

You must be new here...

[leifb]

I'd celebrate if Microsoft were reporthed obeying the law of gravity .

(Ballmer and his frickin' chairs... THEY NEVER COME DOWN!)

Re:Wont satisfy Critics?

[Random BedHead Ed]

Yes, I read in TFA that it won't satisfy critics. Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group was quoted as saying so, and he sounds authoritative and trustworthy enough. I wonder if he would recommend I purchase any Microsoft products in the light of this protocol documentation release. He might be a good, unbiased person to ask about that.

Re:Fucking Rob Enderle, he's like Herpes

[inode_buddha]

"God, I can't stand him. "Principal analyst for market researcher Enderle Group" - yes, principal and only "analyst" for a one-person "group", consisting of him."

You forgot his hamster.