Monday, May 12th 2008
Microsoft Appeals Against the Record 899 Mln Euro EU Fine
Microsoft spokesman Jesse Verstraete announced it was appealing against the record 899 million euro ($1.39 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission for not providing key code to rival software makers and prolonged misbehaviour allegations. "Microsoft today filed to the (EU) Court of First Instance an application to annul the European Commission decision of February 27," the U.S. software giant said in a late Friday mail. "We are filing this appeal in a constructive effort to seek clarity from the court," it said. Microsoft has been fined a total of 1.68 billion euros by the EU for abusing its 95 percent dominance of PC operating systems through its Windows operating system. The Commission had initially fined Microsoft 497 million Euro in March 2004 for deliberately damaging rivals by offering its Windows Media Player with Windows. The second fine of 899 million Euro followed in February 2008, that's also the biggest ever fine imposed on a company by the EU committee.
Source:
EETimes.uk
81 Comments on Microsoft Appeals Against the Record 899 Mln Euro EU Fine
No thank you, I'd rather get news and information from informed sources. The Military reports for one, people in Iraq, and the Conservative media, because they don't try to undermine everything this nation stands for every day of there lives.
What he did right
Free'd Iraqi's from certain slaughter and Death
Prevented Further Terrorist Attacks on America
Kept the Word of this government when Sadam refused to allow UN Inspectors
Didn't bow down to the Liberal cowards
Ignored public opion to do what was correct and right and what the people thought of it be damned, this take real charecter to care more about a cause than your own face
What he did wrong
Nothing, we went into Iraq on wrong CIA info, the Seneate Declared war not Bush, and Bush has no power to remove troops from a war, do some reading your self. Not even Hillary or Obama can actully stop this war, the Senate has to, they are the ones that declared war.
EU are above the law? Last time I checked THEY ARE THE ONES MAKING THE LAW
And for the 3rd time, Microsoft aren't going to pull out of Europe which is a bigger market than the USA is.Free'd Iraqis from certain slaugher? Don't buy the propoganda. Yes, he was a horrible leader but at least they had stability under the dictatorship. The people didn't ask to be "free'd" either. While it may be a good thing overall, we have only now started using that as justification for the war. It wasn't our reason for going there in the first place.
Preventing further attacks? That's basically a logical fallacy. I have a rock here that prevents me from tiger attacks. I don't see any tigers here so my rock must be working, right? Also, look at the countries who have HAD attacks (like the UK) and the atackers specifically said that the reason was because we were in Iraq.
Have you watched the Bin Laden video where he explains WHY he carried out 9/11? It's because of US involvement in Saudi Arabia and the fact tha we have so many bases in the middle east, and they HATE that. You wouldn't want a massive Russian or Chinese base just off the coast of the US. They don't want huge US bases in the middle of their land either.
Didn't bow to liberal cowards? Do you mean that he ignores 70% of the american people who want the troops home? You may call it real character, but I call that a leader who ignores the will of his people... a complete disgrace.Agree on this one. The only way to stop the war is for congress to vote against more spending to support it.
now back on topic will it is true the the EU makes the laws and microsoft should follow those laws, while at the same time they should not have to give away corporate secrets that could impact their business and share holders
while im siding more with m$ on this one im not really intirely sure what they should do about this situation, because they cant keep paying these fines to protect their property, and they cant pull out of the market (not good for anyone), but at the same time they shouldn't be breaking european law (because they are NOT above the law, unlike oj)
Some may call it "unfair" but at the end of the day, anti-competition laws exist to help everybody.
Nobody wants one company to have absolute dominance over a market.. competition is a GREAT thing and it is perfectly true that microsofts practices ofen shut out competition. For instance, the number 1 most popular homepage is msn.com. There isn't any worthwhile content on that site, it isn't a great search engine and it isn't a great news site either. Yet it's number 1 because so many don't change their homepage. Same goes for media players, internet browsers etc etc etc. MS have been warned repeatedly about it, so unfortunately they have to face the consequences.
But I'm from the UK too :rockout:
We where justified in going in, we have found empty WMD casings and Satelites show them being moved to Syria, which we can't touch
They don't have a choice if another country wants us to have a base, the Sudi's invited us there as well as Pakastan. The bases in Iraq and Afganistan will remain ours now also untill we feel the country can support its self.
As for the bombings in London, as you say, its not problem, work on National Security and Immigration control, maybe ask your prime minister to grow some balls, honestly don't know what to tell you, your country won't stand up for its self, it would rather bow down to any crack pot terrorist group.
No 70% is total BS, most American don't submit to the opion polls, it is mainly Liberals that do that, we proper Americans have better things to do and to worry about. Frankly I'm glad he doesn't listen to the Liberals, if he did we'd look a lot like 90% of the other First World Nattions, total cowards with no backside.
As for your market size with Microsoft who cares, no American company should bow to your leaders, If MS pulled out, it would hurt your economy, could cause a mini depression. Personally id rather see that, than a company that has done no wrong bow to the EU. The EU are the biggest bunch of currupt leaders around, you'd be better with Stalin in control or Hitler, at least you'd know there Agenda
In MY OPINION you sir are a complete ignorant and arrogant twat.
Guessing you've never heard of the SAS - you know the organization that even your previous presidents and generals have had TREMENDOUS respect for because they operate so efficiently with the limited tools at their disposal.
That is how american corporations operate once they're put into the hot seat - use of extensive funding to prolong trials and drag them out . . . and should MS be put into tight spot, it would surprise me if they jacked their prices in the european market to make up for their losses - or they might cut out any "bulk" deals with individual governments.
American corporations are corrupt, and know how to use that corruption effectively.
Despite all this whining, this doesn't affect us negatively at all.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_welfare_theorem
On a very fundemental basis it is about Adam's "invisible hand".
"he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was not part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good"
The first welfare theorem holds under perfect competition i.e. no monopolies is a condition. There are other strong assumptions/conditions mentioned in the wiki article. So the rxistence of microsoft is acrually not about free markets.
edit: actually the wiki article is rubbish on assumptions