Microsoft Cancels EU Antitrust Hearing

bahstid writes "The NY Times reports that Microsoft and the European Commission have canceled the only hearing planned in an antitrust investigation into the company's tying of Internet Explorer into Windows because of a dispute over the attendance of European regulators serving as advisers. As a result, the commission will reach its decision and levy a fine based on written statements from Microsoft and its adversaries. Microsoft decided against the opportunity to give oral evidence in the case after it was unable to persuade the commission to move the meeting, scheduled for June 3rd through 5th, so that it did not conflict with a global antitrust conference in Zurich that draws European antitrust regulators."

Comments

I've done that

[Late Adopter]

It's certainly not the first time anyone's skipped work to go to a con.

great quote from an older article

[weirdcrashingnoises]

got this from one of the related links at the bottom of TFA:

According to the person, Microsoft will argue that Internet browsing is inseparable from the Windows operating system. Microsoft will also emphasize that consumers can download and use any competing browser with Windows, and that Internet Explorer's share of the browser market has been falling steadily.

so thats part of their argument? "You see, we're loosing, so that means it's ok for us to cheat!"

here is the article (May 8th)

Re:Two ways to read this

[hkmwbz]

Yeah or the EC has decided they want more money. Hmm, our coffers are looking a little low, I know lets sue MS again, hmm which product to chose ..

Actually, it wasn't the EU who initiated this case. Opera, backed by Mozilla, Google, and others, got the EU to investigate what they argued were actions that violated antitrust law.

While I don't always agree with MS's practices, having a competition hearing at a time when the regional experts are unavailable is stupid.

Actually, none of the people Microsoft claimed to be worried about not attending never attend these hearings anyway. Hearings are usually attended by staff level personell in the first place. The hearing would also be attended by the European Commissioner for Competition.

I think a reasonable request has been turned down for political reasons.

A reasonable request for something no one else gets granted. Right. You are buying into Microsoft's bullshit.

Instead of blindly believing Microsoft's lies, check out the comments by Thomas Vinje and commission spokesman Jonathan Todd. It turns out that Microsoft is just lying and stalling, probably hoping for the current competition commissioner to retire later this year and have a more Microsoft-friendly person appointed.

Re:What is the big deal?

[hkmwbz]

Your evidence and the EU is too vague and bullshitish to even constitute Anti-trust violation.

My evidence? I'm merely stating some facts. If you want the actual evidence, perhaps you should look it up for yourself. Here is a good place to start if you wish to educate yourself.

You can bundle any products you want and MS did. The nature of the bundle was not violating anti-trust laws in any way shape or form. A company is not legally obligated to support their competitors and this judgment does just that.

Actually, you can't bundle any products you want if you are in a dominant position like Microsoft is. The nature of the bundle was likely violating antitrust law (the ruling has not yet been made, mind you), because Microsoft has definitely undermined competition in the browser market by abusing its dominance in the OS market.

It forces MS to ensure their competitors safety, because they made bad choices.

So what you are saying is that there should be no consequences if you break the law?

All this nonsense over a so called bundle, when the average consumer can barely operate a computer is moot.

So-called bundle? Are you denying that IE is bundled with Windows? And how is the average consumer's computer skills relevant?

The EC didn't take into account all factors and made a premature judgment.

What factors? The EC has not made a ruling yet, but did state its preliminary view that it does look like Microsoft broke the law. After issuing the statement where they found there was ground for further followup on the issue, they started gathering more data. This includes responses from Microsoft.

If the average person was capable of using linux or knew wtf a library was, then use, abuse of dominance could be shown.

This case is about browsers, not operating systems.

If you wanted Netscape, then ask them to manage better instead of mismanaging. A company can not and should not be responsible for its competitors survival, it goes against the very nature of business.

Netscape is not the only victim of Microsoft's illegal actions.