I agree with most of these. I never meant to suggest either Intel of MSFT would concede the EU market. But what about the next company - perhaps not to large and not so invested in continuing to do business in the EU?

Whether considered the cost of doing business or for rightful punishments for violating the law, someday this could go too far and cause a company to simply pack up and leave to the detriment of competition in the EU.

The term 'anti-competitive' is what most companies desire to some degree or another; to reduce the effectiveness of or marginalize the competition. I'm against monopolistic behavior. And although MSFT and Intel may have raised the ire of the EU on this front, I'm waiting for the day the EU fines a business so much they simply stop doing business in the EU.

Someday, the irony might be that the EU's actions result in reduced competition when a company simply packs up their products and leaves.

+1 more reason to loathe Sony +1 more reason to stick with SD DVDs God I miss HD-DVD