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Blu-ray, HD DVD Target of EU Antitrust Probe
rfunches writes "The Wall Street Journal reports that EU antitrust regulators are turning up the heat on the Blu-ray and HD-DVD format consortiums. The European Commission has demanded evidence of Hollywood studios' communications and agreements on the new generation of DVD formats. From the article: 'The European Commission, the European Union's executive body, appears to be particularly interested in the activities of the Blu-ray group because of its dominance in Hollywood, according to people familiar with the situation. The commission is investigating whether improper tactics were used to suppress competition and persuade the studios to back their format.' The article points out that all of the major Hollywood studios except Universal are backing Blu-ray; Universal is backing HD-DVD. It also notes that while one industry watcher believes the first format to have an installed base of two million homes will come out on top, there were millions of Betamax units already sold when VHS won out in the format wars of the 80's."
nope.
It's kindof like:
MS pay/proprietary OS - Bad thing
Apple pay/proprietary OS - Good thing
Linux free OS - Good thing
BSD free OS - Bad thing
They make a big deal about this, but at the same time we still have NTSC and PAL formats to basically keep sales of certain products specific to European customers.
Just quit selling anything HD to them. No players, no media.... THEN, there will be no ANTI-TRUST garb. There are dual-format drives available, and I'm sure they'll all be widespread in a year, just like -R and +R formats.
The UK has been trying to manipulate the way other countries run their business with the anti-trust bullshit for a while, and nobody questions the high tariff's throw on them when they get there.. by their own government.
"Please, shut up. Just when I think you can't say anything more stupid, you speak again." -Archie Bunker.
to see the European Union targeting more businesses of Anti-Trust. It wouldn't surprise me to see the EU targeting any business for their anti-trust laws. To the whiny communists in the EU, Anti-Trust=All Capitalism while Trust=Communism.
How about you're a faggot and have no idea what you're talking about. It would be hard to choose something if various industries have colluded together to make the other format none viable. For instance you small minded simpleton, suppose you wish to buy movie A in HD, but only have one option because the other format has been rendered ineffective to due unfair business practices. You don't exactly get to choose do you fuck face?!
Then don't buy the fucking movie at all you imbecile.