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| Europe |
| EU Fines Microsoft $357 Million |
| 2006-07-12 |
| The EU fined Microsoft Corp. $357 million on Wednesday and threatened new penalties of $3.82 million a day beginning July 31 because it says the software maker failed to obey a 2004 antitrust order to share program code with rivals. Microsoft immediately said it would appeal the fine in court. The EU said the new fines would take effect unless the company supplies "complete and accurate" technical information to developers to help them make software that works smoothly with its ubiquitous Windows operating system. Fine LVMH $500 million for not sharing their ugly logo, for regional chauvanism for claiming only their nation makes champagne. Fine Porsche $1 billion for not sharing 911 engines with Ford. What a golden opportunity to zero out the trade deficit. |
| Posted by:Jared |
| #13 But if we are talking API, howscome no one else is complaining? All that much, anyway. Complaints have gone back best part of twenty years that MS uses unpublished APIs in its products (Office, etc.) to give them an unfair advantage. Which is why the DoJ wanted to split MS into two companies - and OS company and an Office products company. It would have made a difference 10 years ago, but is largely irrelevant today. BTW, watch out for the PS3. It's going to blow a large hole in MSoft's business. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-07-12 18:00 |
| #12 I'm sorry, to me this sorta like Al Qaeda and the Sunnis shooting each other up. Just pass me the popcorn. |
| Posted by: Chereper Whush1804 2006-07-12 16:46 |
| #11 Microsoft: I could have *sworn* I had my checkbook when I left the house... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-07-12 15:20 |
| #10 Simple: don't pay them. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2006-07-12 15:18 |
| #9 Note to Bill: halt all shipments to EU countries and install a "By The Minute" tech support center for already in-country MS units. Wiat for Native EU-ites to holler and when the fines are dropped, provide a 'gift' to them to restart their sorry computer industry. Don't forget that early Airbus ( another fine EUbased product) had several crashes when their software would not allow the pilots to do their flying thing and instead let them ride the jets into the ground. That must be MS's fault too, right? |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2006-07-12 14:32 |
| #8 Lunch? |
| Posted by: 6 2006-07-12 14:27 |
| #7 I wonder what happens to money paid to the EU as a fine. |
| Posted by: Matt 2006-07-12 12:45 |
| #6 If the EU is talking about the Windows API, I agree with them (ouch, that hurts), if they are talking about Windows source code, screw them. But if we are talking API, howscome no one else is complaining? All that much, anyway. Maybe the prblem is that EU programmers suck. |
| Posted by: kelly 2006-07-12 11:18 |
| #5 Be a shame if all the Windows boxes in Europe suddenly BSOD'd Their's don't? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-07-12 11:13 |
| #4 Wow, the EU insists that you help your competitors make better software to compete against you. I must say, that really sucks ass. No wonder the european economy is in the crapper. With thinking like that, It will stay there. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-07-12 11:07 |
| #3 That would be great to see. Microsoft is probably big enough to be able to survive a move that removes them from the EUrabian market for good too. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-07-12 10:57 |
| #2 Time to activate the DRM "feature" in their OS? Be a shame if all the Windows boxes in Europe suddenly BSOD'd, huh?... |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-07-12 10:01 |
| #1 Europe is just angry that the americans are still kicking the economic crap out of them. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-07-12 09:41 |