Very true but as the econmoist points out it may be a long drawn out battle. I believe the example of Honeywell and GE used by another poster was an instance where preventative action was taken before the merger was consumated, whereas what we are talking about here is breaking up something which already exists (referring here to the established windows product rather than breaking up MS which doesn't appear in the articles list of remedies considered).
I heard a representative of the gunpowder plot society on radio 5 (bbc) last night, who seemed fairly knowledgeable about the subject and was level headed enough not to get carried away with the presenters enthusiasm for the blowing up half of london aspect of the story. Their website is as comprehensive as you would expect from their name.
Unfortunately under the terms of the "block exemption" car manufacturers can ignore various parts of the Treaty of Rome.
Apparently in return for territorial exclusivity dealerships have to provide staff who are qualified enough to provide the relevant after sales service.
It's nasty and produces some truly bizarre pricing differentials which are exaggerated by a lack of tax harmonisation. An article in the economist
even quoted an example where Danes near the german border would save money by buying spare parts from german dealerships however the germans would save cash by crossing the border in to Denmark to buy new cars.
The block exemption runs out this september but you can expect the manufacturers to be lobbying for an extension (last granted in 1995).
Slashdot Mirror
Very true but as the econmoist points out it may be a long drawn out battle.
I believe the example of Honeywell and GE used by another poster was an instance where preventative action was taken before the merger was consumated, whereas what we are talking about here is breaking up something which already exists (referring here to the established windows product rather than breaking up MS which doesn't appear in the articles list of remedies considered).
I heard a representative of the gunpowder plot society on radio 5 (bbc) last night, who seemed fairly knowledgeable about the subject and was level headed enough not to get carried away with the presenters enthusiasm for the blowing up half of london aspect of the story. Their website is as comprehensive as you would expect from their name.
Apparently in return for territorial exclusivity dealerships have to provide staff who are qualified enough to provide the relevant after sales service.
It's nasty and produces some truly bizarre pricing differentials which are exaggerated by a lack of tax harmonisation. An article in the economist even quoted an example where Danes near the german border would save money by buying spare parts from german dealerships however the germans would save cash by crossing the border in to Denmark to buy new cars.
The block exemption runs out this september but you can expect the manufacturers to be lobbying for an extension (last granted in 1995).