Microsoft Fined €561 Million For Non-compliance With EU Browser Settlement

Seeteufel writes "Microsoft's failure to comply with an antitrust settlement about browser choice has severe consequences. The European Commissioner for Competition Almunia set a fine of €561 million (~$732 million) for the unprecedented break of agreement. Microsoft admitted its mistakes and offered further concessions." A pretty costly bug it seems. From the EC press release: "This is the first time that the Commission has had to fine a company for non-compliance with a commitments decision. In the calculation of the fine the Commission took into account the gravity and duration of the infringement, the need to ensure a deterrent effect of the fine and, as a mitigating circumstance, the fact that Microsoft has cooperated with the Commission and provided information which helped the Commission to investigate the matter efficiently."

Comments

Re:Google OS

[BasilBrush]

This was done under EU anti-monopoly legislation. Microsoft was at the time judged to have a monopoly share of the PC OS market. And as such they couldn't use that monopoly to leverage advantage into the web browser market.

Since neither Google nor Apple have monopoly shares in any OS platform, they should not and cannot be required to do this.

One could argue that since Microsoft Windows is now on the slide, and WebKit based browsers are now the market leader, that the anti-monopoly action against Microsoft is no longer necessary. However that is for a court to decide. Not for Microsoft to simply disregard their obligation.

Re:Can't believe their arrogance

[jawtheshark]

You'd never see this sort of behavior out of more responsible corporations like Apple.

Look up Apples two year warranty obligations under EU law. They really, really, really don't like it and make the customer believe it's only one year.