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EU Plans To Make Apple, Adobe and Others Open Up
FlorianMueller writes "After pursuing Microsoft and Intel, European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes is now preparing an initiative that could have an even greater impact on the IT industry: a European interoperability law that will affect not only companies found dominant in a market but all 'significant' players. In a recent interview, Mrs. Kroes mentioned Apple. Nokia, RIM and Adobe would be other examples. All significant market players would have to provide access to interfaces and data formats, with pricing constraints considered 'likely' by the commissioner. Her objective: 'Any kind of IT product should be able to communicate with any type of service in the future.' The process may take a few years, but key decisions on the substance of the bill may already be made later this year."
Yes you're right but at the same time, price-fixing ("pricing constraints") is not going to fix the problem. All it does is create shortages (because businessmen run-away from industries that lose money). See the Soviet Union and the rampant food shortages they had. The EU seems to be copying the same idea for the computer industry, and it won't work any better.
"Former Soviet apparatchiks feel at home in the 'Yevropeyskiy Soyuz' (EU in russian)"
EU MEP Hannan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl-amBxz-to
The computer industry is not exactly a free market, but then neither was the videotape or music industry (VHS, CD dominated) and things worked out okay for the consumer. They were not ripped off. Besides computers are becoming more free as Microsoft loses share (dropped below 90%) and alternative companies/browsers are chipping-away at Internet Explorer. Plus the rise of the internet has provided a universal standard by which people communicate and do work.
Consumers have more computer choice now than they had in 1995 or 2000. This sounds like a solution looking for a problem that is already fixed/diappearing.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Wow. Who knew, you need to own a Mac to use development tools made for the Mac.
Next your going to complain that you need a PS3 to play PS3 games.
This is how Skynet will be born. By some clueless twit with dangeroulsy little knowledge, interfacing devices and systems to each other in unholy ways.
cat