Thursday, February 28th 2008

EU Fines Microsoft Record 899 Million Euro

The European Commission fined yesterday US computer giant Microsoft for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour. Microsoft must now pay a record 899m euros ($1.4bn; £680.9m) after it failed to comply with a 2004 ruling that it abused its position. The ruling said that Microsoft was guilty of not providing key code to rival software makers. EU regulators said the firm was the first to break an EU anti-trust ruling. The fines come on top of earlier fines of 280m euros imposed in July 2006, and of 497m euros in March 2004. "Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the Commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision," Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement. "As we demonstrated last week with our new interoperability principles and specific actions to increase the openness of our products, we are focusing on steps that will improve things for the future," Microsoft responded.
Source: BBC News
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74 Comments on EU Fines Microsoft Record 899 Million Euro

#51
Dangle
Yes - government merging with the private sector = socialism = fascism. Free Market FTW! GTFO You COMMIES! GO TO CHINA!
Posted on Reply
#52
candle_86
KBDLook, we have the same problems here in the U.S., people stream across the border and look for work in our cities. This is a very complex issue, that requires a combination of equally complex measures to resolve it, but no one here, aside from a few fringe groups, advocates what you are proposing. Fascism = concentration camps, executions, forced relocations and so on, i sure as hell hope that we have evolved past that and this is no way to resolve today's problems.
nothing complex about it, shoot them and the problem is done
Posted on Reply
#53
candle_86
Gam'sterWhy do people take things like this so seriously its not like you have to pay the fine is it :shadedshu.
Back on topic incidents like this happen on a daily basis I.E company's being fined and/or have sanctions put on them on both side of the water so i don't think anti EU UK US talk has any positive input here, We only heard about this particular case because 1. its a record breaking fine 2. its microsoft 3. it increases awareness of microsoft as a company in a good or bad way depends on how you the individual looks at it ( as seen in this thread ) and i'm sure there are many other reasons also.

Cheers
Gam
Its because the European Commies are screwing American bussiness once again. Quite honestly the way they all conduct themselves today, we shoulda joined Hitler.
Posted on Reply
#54
KBD
candle_86nothing complex about it, shoot them and the problem is done
Thank god you are not the one making the decisions, otherwise will all be in trouble.
Posted on Reply
#55
effmaster
mdm-adphUh, no. Just... no.

Forget an economics lesson -- try a history lesson.

You want an economy with ZERO government interference? Look at America's economy around the beginning of the 20th century. You know, back when you got paid two cents an hour, businesses employed little 9-year-olds to crawl around inside machinery (because they had smaller hands!), and food manufacturers regularly mixed all manner of hazardous and poisonous substances in with food just to increase weight and volume.

Oh yeah, I totally want to live like that again.



Yeah, "national socialism" goes by another name, usually: Nazism. I think we can ALL do without that again, thank you.
Uh didnt i ask everyone not to flame me for my opinion?
Take it with a grain of salt if you will. Im not saying any country should be a complete free market economy. Of course I believe there should be government controlled limits on every economy. I just think that that government control should be limited like it is in the US. Whereas the EU is doing too much government control of the semi-free economy.
Again The US is the closest country to a free economy, but even were only a semi-free economy. Seriously think about it mdm-adph. Im content with the government regulations on our economy for the most part here in the USA but overseas in Europe I see it as too authoritarian and an overuse of government control to the extremes.
Posted on Reply
#56
Gam'ster
candle_86Its because the European Commies are screwing American bussiness once again. Quite honestly the way they all conduct themselves today, we shoulda joined Hitler.
Candle go and calm down before you say something that will get you banned :shadedshu, Has it ever occurred to you that maybe microsoft has done something wrong/illegal.... intentionally or not . And like i said in my previous post It happens all around the world and one reason this particular case has this publicity is because of who it is.
Example: I mean do you care about fair trade in 3rd world countries and the fines and sanctions that are imposed on them as much as this nonsense ?.

Plus you can not insult or judge the people of an entire union consisting of many countries on the actions of the few and vise versa.

Cheers
Gam
Posted on Reply
#57
candle_86
KBDThank god you are not the one making the decisions, otherwise will all be in trouble.
and why is that, no more illeagal immigrants. Not to mention they dont technically exist and if they are found dead its impossible to indentify them, and once they figure out its an illeagal they just close the case anyway.
Posted on Reply
#58
candle_86
Gam'sterCandle go and calm down before you say something that will get you banned :shadedshu, Has it ever occurred to you that maybe microsoft has done something wrong/illegal.... intentionally or not . And like i said in my previous post It happens all around the world and one reason this particular case has this publicity is because of who it is.
Example: I mean do you care about fair trade in 3rd world countries and the fines and sanctions that are imposed on them as much as this nonsense ?.

Plus you can not insult or judge the people of an entire union consisting of many countries on the actions of the few and vise versa.

Cheers
Gam
oh yes i can actully, your leaders represent the people as a whole, so the EU is your refrance to the rest of the world. And to be honest i could care less if MS screws over the rest of the world, quite frankly, most of these devs make substandard shit thats not worth a shit anyway. So yea i say MS can screw them over, im a capitlist and will defend any compaines rights to screw the compititor. And besides if MS pulled out of Europe they wouldnt losse a customer, those customers would simply have to order the software from overseas.
Posted on Reply
#59
effmaster
candle_86And besides if MS pulled out of Europe they wouldnt losse a customer, those customers would simply have to order the software from overseas.
No they wouldnt because Apple (Microsofts main competitor) would be a cheaper alternative to many users in Europe including big time tech companies over there as well, versus ordering mountains of software from overseas..
Posted on Reply
#60
Gam'ster
candle_86oh yes i can actully, your leaders represent the people as a whole, so the EU is your refrance to the rest of the world. And to be honest i could care less if MS screws over the rest of the world, quite frankly, most of these devs make substandard shit thats not worth a shit anyway. So yea i say MS can screw them over, im a capitlist and will defend any compaines rights to screw the compititor. And besides if MS pulled out of Europe they wouldnt losse a customer, those customers would simply have to order the software from overseas.
So if you don't care about MS or any of its dealings then why are you so uptight over something you don't care about or is this just another chance for you to flame in a thread and vent you're teenage angst, i'm just curious ?

Cheers
Gam
Posted on Reply
#61
candle_86
no i care about American bussiness when your little continet thinks they have some say in the world. Its time Europe just was happy with what they have before Asia and N. America get tired of you.
Posted on Reply
#62
Deleted member 3
trog100ps.. sheep are made to be screwed..
I just felt like quoting that part, no reason.
Posted on Reply
#63
erocker
*
Candle, no more flaming. Enough! You have insulted others with your comments and have insulted me as well.:shadedshu
Posted on Reply
#64
candle_86
im not flaming im just sick of Europe and there crocked laws. MS is the worlds most powerful software company. And its time someone told the EU where to stick it and there stupid bussiness practices. I have no respect what so ever for Europe, they lost every ounce of it in my eyes, and my only true hope is that America will next time they get invaded will tell them tough shit and close down all trade and bussiness with them and effecticly cut the Commies off.
Posted on Reply
#65
erocker
*
Then you sir have serious problems. Go ahead keep it up.:shadedshu
Posted on Reply
#66
Gam'ster
candle_86no i care about American bussiness when your little continet thinks they have some say in the world. Its time Europe just was happy with what they have before Asia and N. America get tired of you.
:shadedshu, well ...... i'm not even going to respond to that, poor misunderstood boy.......
Posted on Reply
#67
Deleted member 3
Oh btw, you're all quitting this "my cuntry pwns the worlds bettahr than urz!" discussion. Otherwise this thread is closed.
Posted on Reply
#68
candle_86
anwser me this, as an American why should i support of Foreign power dictacting the way Americans do bussiness. The Europeans should feel privliged to be able to use our stuff. Where would they be today with out American Computer compaines?

Allied Simicondutor is American

Intel is American

AMD is American

Nvidia is American

Microsoft is American

Apple is American

IBM is American

So whats the leave them, oh i know S3 graphics and Cyrix based CPU's. Remember these are American compaines that Europe consistinly fucks over. I say let Europe provide for them selves. Name me one product besides a car that is actully sold outside of Europe that they make?
Posted on Reply
#69
Ravenas
candle_86anwser me this, as an American why should i support of Foreign power dictacting the way Americans do bussiness. The Europeans should feel privliged to be able to use our stuff. Where would they be today with out American Computer compaines?

Allied Simicondutor is American

Intel is American

AMD is American

Nvidia is American

Microsoft is American

Apple is American

IBM is American

So whats the leave them, oh i know S3 graphics and Cyrix based CPU's. Remember these are American compaines that Europe consistinly fucks over. I say let Europe provide for them selves. Name me one product besides a car that is actully sold outside of Europe that they make?
Because if you didn't support other countries, the companies you listed above would all go out of buisiness. Grow up for us all please.
Posted on Reply
#70
candle_86
I am defending the rights of American compaines to do there bussiness. There patents are filed in America and are subject only to American law, were the EU has no say.
Posted on Reply
#71
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
It's really not that complicated.

As a corporate entity in WA state, Microsoft has the right to produce products and perform services (P&S) at whatever price point they set, and must follow the state statutes that cover business activity in WA.

When MS started selling P&S in other states, they then were invilved in iterstate commerce, which falls under the jurisdiction of the US Federal Government. They then had to follow federal laws pertaining to business activity.

When MS went international with their P&S, they now were required to adhere to the business laws of each soverign country they conducted business with, or in the case oif the EU, the ruling authority.

If the EU feels that MS is doing something anti-competitive they reserve the right to call them on the carpet (as they can do with any company). MS then has two options, follow the rules or get out. MS, of course, will never stop making their P&S available in the EU as they are making way more money than the fines they are incurring. It is really just a nuisance to MS, and is not detrimentally harming their bottom line.

Each sovergn country has the right to do this. Some do, some don't. It's their call. In each case a company can comply or leave, that's their call.

It's really just business as usual for a global company.
Posted on Reply
#72
candle_86
RavenasBecause if you didn't support other countries, the companies you listed above would all go out of buisiness. Grow up for us all please.
really would they, seems to me they wouldn't. Slow down Production numbers and suddenly they are spending as much to support that market, hince less money spent.
Posted on Reply
#73
W1zzard
candle_86is that America will next time they get invaded will tell them tough shit
last time i checked the evil terrorists invaded the us and in order to retailate the us asked the nato for assistance in the fight @ middle east?

now that the usd broke the 1.50 mark vs. the euro a lot of european companies don't want to sell their goods on the usd market anymore .. because they would lose money. personally i have lost about 15% of my income vs. last year because i'm mostly paid in usd
Posted on Reply
#74
Deleted member 3
W1zzardlast time i checked the evil terrorists invaded the us and in order to retailate the us asked the nato for assistance in the fight @ middle east?

now that the usd broke the 1.50 mark vs. the euro a lot of european companies don't want to sell their goods on the usd market anymore .. because they would lose money. personally i have lost about 15% of my income vs. last year because i'm mostly paid in usd
Lol, doubt terrorists are an issue. Last time I checked America is broke ten times over and China is growing at an insane rate, China will buy America just to be ironic.
Posted on Reply
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