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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."
Goatse!
You know you want it.
and then Europe closed Microsoft business completely in Europe.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
It has nothing to do with the stated particulars of the case. Its just a shakedown for cash.
There are also some elements of anti-Americanism (as evidenced by some of the comments by the principal investigators and court officers).
Like being fond of toilet paper because it wraps shit.
Thanks for your comments troll. Nowhere in that statement did I actually imply that I did know what I was talking about. I simply stated it seemed like somebody was pumping up the fine a bit for personal gain. I could give flying rats ass who's doing it, my only interest pertains to where its going. Sure its a matter of public record; giving said amount of money to Charity A that is run by City Official B. Or wait, does this money go to fix public facilities? To pay, 100 dollars an hour for repairs that would normally cost $30? Surely you don't just accept that there is no corruption in any legal system? It is my personal opinion that fines like this should be thoroughly investigated, every time they are issued. 1.3 Billion dollars is a extremely large sum of money to be awarded in a legal case. Last time it was reported (though I may be mistaken) Microsoft didn't even have that much cash on hand. Off topic, I find it amusing that 1.3 billion dollars can be awarded for a anti-trust case, but only $25,000 dollars per incident (maybe its more now) can be fined when a oil company dumps tons of toxic waste in a lake somewhere and killing/mutating half the wild life. If the courts wanted to fine this much money they should be awarding it back to the the businesses that sustained losses due to Microsoft practices, though that seems a bit difficult does it not? Nevertheless, that money has to go somewhere and you simply can not argue that there are a few that stand to make a fortune off of this case.
Then were are the fines for Apple (who still bundle all their media stuff in OS X just like MS)? Huh?
Hello?
You there?
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Good grief but the Microsoft shills are beginning to sound desperate. I mean, they've always been border line intellects, but now they're coming up with the most idiotic claims yet.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
F the EU. Useless piece of shit politicians.
The EU must be crazy. The root cause of this is a stupid explorer icon on the desktop. Get over it already!
Let's compare MS Windows to a TV for some clarity. Microsoft came preloaded with IE. A TV comes preloaded with a TV changer. Microsoft allows you to install Opera or Firefox. A TV allows you to hook up a cable box. Microsoft gets sued to oblivion because explorer comes bundled and is tied to the O/S in fundamental ways. A TV maker does not get sued because the TV channel changer is tied fundamentally to the hardware of the TV. It is generally accepted that you can add on TV channel changing functionality to a TV. TV's lull the masses with their boring content. MS lull the masses with their boring content.
They should go after Apple, the real monopoly. Steve Jobs has taken over Satan's role from Bill Gates.
Where's the 0xBEEF
Come on folks, look past the M$ hatred. This is obviously the EU fining an American company because they're pissed that no European equivalent has evolved. They're running a ridiculously protectionist scheme, as they have been ever since the EU was founded. Despite the fact that they've succeeded in the Euro vs. $ battle, the European Union won't be happy until they have total and complete economic dominance over the US.
Yea, support the fining of Microsoft. I kind of like French as a national language, too. J'espere que les personnes qui aiment cette decision pourriez parler francais.
Check mail in MSN? IE pops up.. Get a domain name wrong? MSN search activated, ad revenue generated.Thanks, you just proved my point as for why it should be ripped out. It has created an unfair advantage over competing products.
Microsoft can do whatever it wants business wise. If they want to fuck you out of the market, TO BAD! that is capitolism..
Don't bitch is someone is anti-competitive, they just have a better business model than you. Pussies.
Don't you linux boys have something else better to do like fucking tux the penguin in the asshole or somthing?
(no i do not work for microsoft)
In America, the general idea is that rights are granted by virtue of being born ("from God" or "natural law"). Governments in the American ideal merely recognize and protect pre-existing rights, they don't "give" them.
In Europe, the mindset is much more that the government grants the rights, and individuals have no "natural rights".