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EU Fines Microsoft $1.3 Billion
jd writes "The EU has slammed Microsoft with a fine of €899 million ($1.337 billion at current exchange rates) for perpetuating violations of the 2004 antitrust ruling.The fine is the sum of daily fines running from June 21, 2006 to October 21, 2007. It is the first company ever to be fined for non-compliance. The amazing thing is that the EU now expects Microsoft to comply and 'close a dark chapter' in their history. The EU has opened new investigations into Microsoft's practices and gave a lukewarm response to the company's turning over yet another new leaf last week."
I'm curious as to where that money is going to be going. 1.3 billion? Clearly some people are taking advantage of the situation in an effort to line their own pockets.
Who is EU anyway? There's as much truth to the "U" for "united" in that name as there is to nazis liking the jews. Someone has to stop "EU" from this madness. An invasion would be nice!
The phaomnneil pweor of the hmuan mnid. Fcuknig amzanig eh!
At this point, it's not a case of the EU acting in the best interests of its citizens. This is extortion of a rich American company, pure and simple.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
You must be a pretty poor .Net developer if you think its just a wrapper..
...they finally purge themselves entirely of your corrupt American corporations.
you had me at #!
It's the revisionist history MS marketeering has been feeding everyone. It's just that the BBC decided to be a platform for its dissemination.
Beta is broken and the link to classic doesn't work. Stop wasting our time or there won't be anybody left here.
That's got to be one of the biggest piles of doubletalk crap I've ever heard.
The Euro isn't "overvalued"... the USD was. But thanks to GWB, the world has spent the last eight years wondering why they continue to prop up the US economy- it's only the biggest market because everyone else makes it so.
So... for the last eight years, countries have been diversifying, putting more of their money into the Euro. And since it's unlikely a collection of states would become warmongers (as opposed to one country with a history of immoral and imperialist activities), that also makes diversifying into other places a vote for global stability and prosperity, as well.
Every time US conservatives come into power, America (and world peace) suffers for it. Hopefully, this most recent and excessively corrupt conservative administration will finally cause Americans to reject these people. Perhaps not, since stupid is still a very powerful and influential demographic in the USA, but one can hope.
"I think you are mistaken. The commission ruled on the illegality as is their charter as an executive body (like the DoJ in the US)."
An unelected body, hand picked, usually with bad people like Mandelson, part of a totally undemocratic and appalling Executive that has documented failings in terms of democratic deficit?
"Microsoft then appealed the decision bringing it before the EU courts (judicial) and lost their appeal (in Sept 2007). MS then declined to further appeal the decision (announced in October 2007)."
These courts are kangeroo courts controlled, and owned by the executive. Hans Martin Tillack lost his case too, but don't be shocked. Thats how dictatorships work.
"This is a common misconception. In both the US and EU, antitrust abuse is a criminal offense, not a civil one. The confusion stems from the fact that most criminal cases begin as civil suits against the monopolist and are then taken over and made criminal cases by the executive body. If you recall, for example, it was the US Dept. of Justice V. Microsoft. Tat was not the DoJ suing MS in civil court for a contract violation against them."
No, its you that has a misconception. Read what is being said by these high handed none elected people. Lets review:-
"Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of E.U. competition policy that the commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision," the European Union's competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement. "I hope that today's decision closes a dark chapter in Microsoft's record of noncompliance with the commission's March 2004 decision."
(Doubtful, since you commissioner are still progressing two other cases against them.)
"In March 2004 the commission ordered Microsoft to disclose interoperability information to competitors within 120 days. Its antitrust regulators later found that the company was charging excessively high royalties and patent fees that effectively foreclosed rival vendors from obtaining the information."
(So, they complied, but you didn't like how they complied. Did you state how much this should be made available for? No.. didn't think so.)
"In a press conference, Ms. Kroes indicated that the fine was calculated on the basis that Microsoft was in breach of the commission's order for 488 days. She said that the amount represented 60 percent of the maximum $2.2 billion fine that the commission could have imposed.
She said, "It was never a pleasure" to impose a fine, but characterised the commission's action as a reasonable reaction to an "unreasonable" price charged by Microsoft for information crucial to competitors. "This has had a negative effect on millions of offices and companies and governments around the world," she said."
(Note carefully the comments. What you are seeing is the ambition of people out of control. Its not about MS in the EU, now its Millions of offices and companies and governments around the world. I did not know the EU was so brazen in its new model imperialism, but why hold back. Are the fines levied if MS fails to comply with the EU when outside the EU? Do tell, I'd really like to know..)
"With regard to Microsoft's offer of more information, she said "we don't want talk, we want compliance. If you cheat the rules, you will be caught."
(What you mean is, we have someone in our sights, and fully intend to rake in some very nice extra cash for our dictatorship, and there is fuck all anyone can do about it.)
"She added, "This should be a signal to the outside world, and in particular to Microsoft, that we stick to our line.""
(Its a warning sign of things to come. Microsoft is the first, it won't be the last.)
Microsoft's troubles in the European Union aren't anywhere near over yet. It's still facing two antitrust investigations there, one addressing interoperability and a second related to the alleged "tying" of unrelated software products.
No doubt our friend the unelected, totally unrepresentative, Nellie will not enjoy hitting Microsoft with fines. No, off course she won't. *Roll Eyes*
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