European Commission Plans Criminal Case Against Microsoft

[btarunr]

According to a report, European Commission is planning to level a criminal case against Microsoft for failing to meet the conditions laid down by the judgement of a 2009 case that forced Microsoft to strip its Internet Explorer browser from Windows operating system copies sold in the EU, and presenting new installations of the OS with a browser selection menu. With the advent of Windows 7 SP1, the browser selection menu was not implemented for tens of millions of PCs (out of an error, Microsoft argues). The new case could lead to penalties in billions of Euros for Microsoft.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Fourstaff]

Every single one of them describes themselves as fast, other than Safari (which is probably slow?!). Actually I don't see a problem in using IE now, its pretty polished.

 

[mcloughj]

out of an error, Microsoft argues

That's a pretty sizable error even for Microsoft

 

[Fourstaff]

That's a pretty sizable error because Microsoft

Fixed that for you, Microsoft is well known for their hapless errors, especially when it comes to security critical patches. It has gone better, but still miles away from excellent.

 

[mediasorcerer]

The EU should be filing suit over the bleeding start menu and tiles in win 8 .

 

[Prima.Vera]

I'm from EU, but forgive me, this is BULLSHIT from European Commission! Is their software, they can do whatever they want with it

 

[dieterd]

I am from EU, and last two IT news (about GPU power classes and this) is just outdated, irrelevant, plain stupid, and disrespectfull to all sides + I have feeling that those EU morans can do what ever the fu_ck they like in future.
Man - I hope to get greencard, cuz I dont wana go to mother Russia!

 

[buggalugs]

I'm from EU, but forgive me, this is BULLSHIT from European Commission! Is their software, they can do whatever they want with it

As much as I dont like monopolies I agree with you on this one. Microsoft builds an OS and provides an internet browser. Its not Microsofts responsibility to offer competing browsers from third parties. Firefox, Google etc are free to build their own OS if they want.

Whats next? Microsoft should include competing products of paint? Like Gimp or Paint.net? Microsoft should include competing disc defraggers, competing media centre, almost every aspect of windows has a third party alternative.

If people are too stupid to download and test different browsers they should stop using the computer.

 

[Anusha]

then why don't they sue against Apple for not letting your set a 3rd party browser as the default browser on iOS? What a bunch of idiots.

MS should stop selling Windows in the EU. Heck, they are a devices and services company. They don't have to sell an OS.

 

[remixedcat]

go after the real companies that harm people like monsanto or the chemical companies...

they fine polluters that kill people a couple million yet they wanna fine MS around 7 billion for some stupid browser ballot crap.

 

[largon]

[...] this is BULLSHIT from European Commission! Is their software, they can do whatever they want with it

This.

 

[Drone]

Every normal human being who has a brain can download and install any browser they want. Nobody needs a nagging screen. Whoever who came up with that dumbcunt idea can suck a monkey's ass or balls. There's a hatred and negativity against MS but suing them for this? First they didn't let them call their UI "Metro" (I don't remember what retard was that, as if he invented that word ) and now this ....

 

[HTC]

For a long time now i chose to not use IE.

Whenever i make a fresh install, install my browser program (in my case it's Firefox) and the rest of the programs i use, unless i make it so that my updates are not automatically downloaded and installed, i'll get IE installed in my system.

Why is IE considered an update if the program is not supposed to be installed in the first place?

 

[WhiteLotus]

According to a report, European Commission is planning to level a criminal case against Microsoft for failing to meet the conditions laid down by the judgement of a 2009 case that forced Microsoft to strip its Internet Explorer browser from Windows operating system copies sold in the EU, and presenting new installations of the OS with a browser selection menu. With the advent of Windows 7 SP1, the browser selection menu was not implemented for tens of millions of PCs (out of an error, Microsoft argues). The new case could lead to penalties in billions of Euros for Microsoft.

[url]http://www.techpowerup.com/img/12-10-15/108a_thm.jpg[/URL]

Source: ComputerBase.de

So this is how they are going to finance the bail outs.

 

[Andy77]

You wanna sell in EU, you sell the way we tell you to. PERIOD

So this is how they are going to finance the bail outs.

Taxing US companies which contributed to the creation of this global mess?... YES, as opposed to indebting the people like US does now. How many trillions was it?

 

[IceCreamBarr]

I can think of mistakes where the perpetrator is still responsible for cleaning the mess:
- I accidently hit your car, no intent... I am responsible for the repairs
- My 3 yr old breaks your window... I, as the parent, am responsible for the repairs
- City law says "get a permit before building". I build without a permit... I am responsible for the cost of demolition

It seems to me that basic wisdom is generally applied to small, every day incidents but large corporations can pay lawyers millions of dollars to argue their way out of anything.

 

[3870x2]

So the courts told Microsoft not to include software that is an essential part of their operating system, then told them to develop software that directly inhibits the distribution of their own software, while helping their competitors with their own products.

We need to see some jail time for some EU court members.

 

[WhiteLotus]

So the courts told Microsoft not to include software that is an essential part of their operating system, then told them to develop software that directly inhibits the distribution of their own software, while helping their competitors with their own products.

We need to see some jail time for some EU court members.

Agreed. As pointed out already, it's Microsoft's software. It's like telling them to include Linux in the install options.

 

[iO]

If MS is that stupid they really deserve to get sued again...

 

[Completely Bonkers]

It's just a "payback" conspiracy against the US --- since the US happily throws mega-fines at the EU banks, or tries to bankrupt them with silly CDO's, or awards punitive damages against BP or Lloyds of London Reinsurance.

Every 10 years or so there is a one-way capital flow dressed as "fines" or "insurance claims" from the EU to the US. Here is one time the EU can play payback.

BUT IT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. No reason to punish MS for having an "open" OS. Go after Apple. Their walled gardens are far greater in the breach of freedoms. Oh wait... I see the EU quite likes walled gardens...

 

[TheMailMan78]

It's just a "payback" conspiracy against the US --- since the US happily throws mega-fines at the EU banks, or tries to bankrupt them with silly CDO's, or awards punitive damages against BP or Lloyds of London Reinsurance.

Every 10 years or so there is a one-way capital flow dressed as "fines" or "insurance claims" from the EU to the US. Here is one time the EU can play payback.

BUT IT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. No reason to punish MS for having an "open" OS. Go after Apple. Their walled gardens are far greater in the breach of freedoms. Oh wait... I see the EU quite likes walled gardens...

BP needs to be hung by the short hairs to what it did to my state. To hell with BP. Fine them to oblivion.

As for this EU thing well......gotta help pay off Greece's and Spains debt somehow I guess.

 

[Fragman]

Every single one of them describes themselves as fast, other than Safari (which is probably slow?!). Actually I don't see a problem in using IE now, its pretty polished.

Seems like you don't make websites i can see IE is a pain in the ass and don't work with half the stuff you can use on websites

but the fines are to small for m$ they just need to do what the EU says when selling in the EU
the US of A tries to controle the world daily and need to stop it US of A is a cancer cell that need to be destroyed....

 

[TheMailMan78]

Seems like you don't make websites i can see IE is a pain in the ass and don't work with half the stuff you can use on websites

but the fines are to small for m$ they just need to do what the EU says when selling in the EU
the US of A tries to controle the world daily and need to stop it US of A is a cancer cell that need to be destroyed....

Haters gonna hate as always. Maybe the EU should come and destroy the US of A? Think of all the lulz.

 

[ironwolf]

BP needs to be hung by the short hairs to what it did to my state. To hell with BP. Fine them to oblivion.

Amen fellow FL'er!! Hey BP, message to you from the Gulf Coast:

 

[3870x2]

Seems like you don't make websites i can see IE is a pain in the ass and don't work with half the stuff you can use on websites

but the fines are to small for m$ they just need to do what the EU says when selling in the EU
the US of A tries to controle the world daily and need to stop it US of A is a cancer cell that need to be destroyed....

Don't be mad, chances are you will be part of 'Merica sometime in the future.

Wont be long before the world police decides to change Earths name to 'Merica.