Print - Antitrust Déjà Vu: EU Threatens More Microsoft Fines

It seems that Microsoft will never be able to satisfy European Union (EU) antitrust regulators. Yesterday, representatives of the European Commission (EC) once again complained that the software giant's response to its 2004 antitrust ruling was inadequate, and raised the possibility that Microsoft would face further fines.

"This is the first time we have been confronted by a company which has failed to comply with an antitrust decision," EC spokesperson Jonathan Todd said yesterday. "We are in unknown territory."

This issue has been dragging on for so long, it's hard to even keep the details straight. The short version goes like this: In March 2004--about three years ago--the EC found that Microsoft had violated various EU antitrust laws; the commission fined Microsoft approximately $630 million and ordered the company to make several changes. One of these changes required Microsoft to create a set of documentation that would help licensees create software that could interoperate with its Windows Server products. Microsoft delayed complying with virtually all of the EC's requirements, but the documentation issue has dragged on the longest, with the EC repeatedly finding Microsoft's submissions inadequate. It happened again this week.

On Wednesday, the EC sent Microsoft yet another statement of objections, which complains that Microsoft's latest submission is, once again, incomplete. The company has four weeks to respond to the objections, and the EC says that Microsoft faces possible fines of $4 million a day for noncompliance at that point. Microsoft was previously fined $371 million, in July 2006, for not complying with this same part of the antitrust ruling.

Furthermore, the EC complains that Microsoft is charging its competitors too much for the documentation. The EC says that the documentation doesn't warrant exorbitant pricing because it offers "no significant innovation." But give Microsoft credit for one innovation: They've really figured out a way to drag out compliance to unrealistic lengths. "This is a company which apparently does not like to have to conform with antitrust decisions," Todd said.

Bill Gates should post an article on the Microsoft website called: "Thoughts on Server Documentation" ;-)

It's Groundhog's Day, again........ What is the EC trying to prove here? That they can jerk around a successful US company? I think they've succeeded.

I think EU has taken the wrong path, although I think the documentation is necessary. I think they should focus more on the "oWs-external" competition than the "internal". That is prohibit any kind of extortions of the kind, either you sell oWs with new PCs or we will charge you more. I think this is the kind of monopoly abuse they should focus more, than the oWs internals. In any case I do not think MM%M will manage to continue much with its current route of approaches (in the market, not considering any fines).

When will the EU get onto the price diffential for Windows Vista. The same software costs much more in Europe than in North America.

The EU has no problem railing Microsoft about interoperability, but the last I checked BMW has never been sued because their closed platform doesn't allow Audi to make transmissions for the 700 series. I have no problem with documentation on how things work, I love that. However, if someone decides to take his marbles and play in a room by himself, you really can't complain about the way he's playing marbles, it's his business. Microsoft developed their products all in-house, and they have a quality product. Part of that privilidge is that you know how it works, and others don't. They have to pay to play, and if the price is to high, well they can go spoot themselves (let's see the asterisk police stop that one). Impressively, Apple has faced European litigation recently as well (although not by the EU) over their Fairplay DRM. Normally, I would be upset, since the argument is basically again 'waaaah tell us how your magic works!' (yes I know I'm oversimplifying the difference between trade secrets and interfaces, thus making an IP clusterspoot, but my point still stands) but in this case, Apple needs a good slap in the face... it even made Jobs finally agree that DRM is bad. Anywho, the EU getting uppity is nothing to lose sleep over, they don't actually 'do' anything.

AHAHAHAHAHA! that's funny - in that it just confirms that stevejobs' has no credibility. nice one, Mackie! why criticize what Steve Jobs says when his own userbase is making him look like a fool already? XP

"What is the EC trying to prove here? That they can jerk around a successful US company?" You'd think by now that they would realize the futility of getting any kind of enforceable judgement against Microsoft. If there's one thing Microsoft knows how to do, it's delay, delay, delay These lawsuits last longer than a Vista development cycle. ----- "The EU has no problem railing Microsoft about interoperability, but the last I checked BMW has never been sued because their closed platform doesn't allow Audi to make transmissions for the 700 series." LOL...my "Air Wick Freshmatic" isn't compatible with my "Glade PlugIn" air freshener, either, but European countries aren't suing over that. "I want my Zune songs to play on my iPod! I want FairPlay for my Hyundai Flash MP3 player! Sue Microsoft! Sue Apple!" Waaa Waaa Waaaa. Buncha freakin' babies. ------ "Impressively, Apple has faced European litigation recently as well ...Normally, I would be upset...but in this case, Apple needs a good slap in the face." Apple fanbois: "Go Europe! Get those bad guys (Microsoft)!" Windows fanbois: "Go Europe! Get those bad guys (Apple)!" The rest of us: "Hey Europe! Sip your freakin' Bordeaux and STFU." ----- "Hmm. Maybe if Bill Gates would stop eating babies." I hear they go well with a nice dry German Reisling. That's what Ballmer says, anyway.

"I hear they go well with a nice dry German Reisling. That's what Ballmer says, anyway." i wouldn't bother losta - you never had credibility in the first place! XP

Why criticize Waethorn, when his pro-baby-eating agenda is laid clear for everyone (including his mother) to see?

oh don't bring mothers into this....we all know where yours comes from.... oh, she's saying it's your bed time....time to pull the sides up on your crib....she has "other interests" to satisfy at the moment. ;) XP

Don't try to go off-topic, Wae. The topic is Bill Gates, and the trail of bread crumbs that leads to his gingerbread house of death in Redmond.

Small child: "Vista! Call for help! Bill looks hungry!" Vista: "Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all."

"God speed all the bakers at dawn may they all cut their thumbs, And bleed into their buns 'till they melt away. "

Tasty Tasty Babies... MMM. Even small cats enjoy eating babies, just look at this one (post baby eating), http://www.roflcat.com/images/cats/butter.jpg (SFW o' course)

ya i like cutting up [babies] and having them in Kraft Dinner with Heinz Ketchup. mmm mmm good! ;) XP

sorry, but poutine is Quebecois, of which i am not. it's made of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds. KFC makes it with mozza chunks though, but their chicken gravy is good. it's a hearty mess, to be sure, and it's not for the faint of heart (or weak of stomach). when i visit Quebec, i like to eat poutine, some Beaver Tails (get your mind out of the gutter), and some Caribou (not the meat - the drink). to see some traditional Quebecois country cuisine, check this out: http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/Homeang.html very expensive, and in the heart of Old Quebec City, but the place is over 300 years old too. for something special, try the "Grand Father's treat" ;) XP

Poutine is easily one of the unhealthiest things on the planet. And one of the tastiest. (Not Canadian, just used to live 60K south of Montreal)

"sorry, but poutine is Quebecois, of which i am not." Ah, but they sell it all over the damn country. I even saw it in a McDonald's in Ontario. No wonder you people are so cranky. The crappiness of your food rivals Great Britain (Coffee Crisp notwithstanding). :-)

"I even saw it in a McDonald's" i've never seen it at a McDonald's, but the point is moot. a statement like that is like saying that you had a "hamburger" there too. "The crappiness of your food" this coming from the inventors of: hot-dog eating contests, fried Twinkies, 1Lb of "food" in a Hungry Man Dinner, "Fat Burger", Burger King "Stackers", and sausage & pancakes on a stick? that's just some sick sh1t!! XP

"i've never seen it at a McDonald's, but the point is moot. a statement like that is like saying that you had a 'hamburger' there too." The point is not "moot". It's just that you have to disagree with every damn thing I say. It's almost genetic with you, isn't it? While I won't personally argue that McDonald's poutine is anything other than average, the FACT is, it did appear in montrealmirror.com's "Best of 2003 Poutine" list (and again in 2004, and again in 2005). And that came from a "Reader's Poll", so it reflects the opinion of the very people--Montrealers--who supposedly know poutine the best. Go figure. http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/051205/bom05_9.html

as you like to often point out, one poll is not the be-all-and-end-all conclusion of a statistic. poutine is hardly something that i would consider "food" anyway, and isn't even worth the argument. XP

according to stevejobs, eating babies.... funny how that's usually the case in RL too. XP