Microsoft Hit With 280m Euro Fine 527
Craig Mason writes "The BBC Reports that "Microsoft has been fined 280.5m euros ($357m; £194m) by the European Commission for failing to comply with an anti-competition ruling.
The software giant was hit by the fine following a long-running dispute between the US firm and EU regulators.
The move follows a landmark EU ruling in 2004, which ordered Microsoft to provide rivals with information about its Windows operating system.
EU regulators also warned Microsoft it could face new fines of 3m euros a day.""
So what? (Score:3, Funny)
1. 280 million Euros is a drop in the bucket for M$.
2. They will delay, stall, and avoid paying for as long as possible.
3. When #2 fails, they will magically announce that they are in compliance.
4. ?????
5. Profit!
Most of the fine (Score:1, Funny)
Credit rating? (Score:5, Funny)
Ohhh I never thought of that. It will be a really huge problem for Microsoft if they ever need to purchase some new company cars but the bank won't loan them the money...
How will they cope?
Re:They're claiming it's a "clarity" problem? (Score:3, Funny)
On my computers?
all the best,
drew
(da idea man)
Re:So what? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Easy (Score:4, Funny)
I think it'd be more poetic if they just revoked MS's copyrights and declared Windows "freeware", tho - chairs would wind up hurled into orbit when that one got announced
Re:Worrying thought... (Score:3, Funny)
LK
Re:Enough is enough (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Market cap means little (Score:3, Funny)
Well... The japanese are a bit weird... But yes, definetely
Re:Erh... something runs wrong here. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Trial of Bill Gates (Score:4, Funny)
"NEXT!"
Wouldn't be the first time Bill got "hit" in EU... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Worrying thought... (Score:1, Funny)
Rediculous example? Not really. Being a monopolist is just as subjective and rediculous as being "too pretty" in a world where you can download a free OS with all the bells and whistles right off the internet at any time. Sure MS plays rough, but if you want to be able to compete against competitors like linux (various distros) who give away thier work for free, you are not going to pull any punches. Nothing MS has done warrents Millions of dollars in fines, because all they have done is "out compete" the competition. It is not like they shot someone, or engaged in any crimiinal activity. And before you say something is illegal = something being criminal, get a clue. If MS was charged with a crime, they would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead they were charged with violating an civil law, which is just perponderennce of the evidence.
If you think that for a moment, that the US government is going to idly stand by while Europe invalidates MS's copyrights in Europe, you have another thing coming. You could see the US invalidating every single european copyright in the US, which would destroy the European Software industry.
But if it really comes to blows, the US would not have to fire a shot. Just cut off the oil spigot and europe will have to surrender. likewise we could just just all trade between Europe and the rest of the world since we control the world's oceans.
So much for europe's third way.