EU fines Microsoft record $1.4bn

**MIG-31** · Feb 27, 2008, 04:43 PM

The European Commission has fined US computer giant Microsoft for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour. Microsoft must now pay a record 899m euros ($1.4bn; £680.9m) after it failed to comply with a 2004 ruling that it abused its position.

The ruling said that Microsoft was guilty of not providing key code to rival software makers.EU regulators said the firm was the first to break an EU anti-trust ruling.

The fines come on top of earlier fines of 280m euros imposed in July 2006, and of 497m euros in March 2004.
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Source: BBC News

mkk · Feb 27, 2008, 06:25 PM

Son of a bitch must pay!
But I wonder if they've actually put out a single euro so far. Anyway, Intel's next.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Feb 27, 2008, 10:05 PM

easi soultion don't have any microsoft owned busnnesss locations in the EU
and they can STFU or use linux. thier a beast but anyone should be collecting
fines its the US goverment...

OldBuzzard · Feb 29, 2008, 01:08 PM

If I'm Bill Gates, I tell the European Commission to put their fine(s) where the sun don't shine.

Not much the European Commission can do at that point other than shut down MS operations in the EU.

At that point, I say "Fine", and shut down access to all online updates, etc from anywhere in the EU.

I then sit back and watch all the businesses, and people in the EU force the European Commission to back off.

That way I win and the European Commission is the 'Bad guy'.

BlueMak · Feb 29, 2008, 01:29 PM

Microsoft has far more to lose if they shut down their european operations than 1.4 billion US dollars. Don't let misguided nationalism cloud your judgement.

OldBuzzard · Feb 29, 2008, 03:34 PM

You obviously missed the point.

MS doesn't shut down, they make the European Commission shut them down.

Then the REAL PEOPLE in the EU will force the European Commission to back off.

MS wouldn't be 'down' for any significant amount of time.

"misguided nationalism" has nothing to do with it. It's all a mattter of MS letting the European Commission know that they aren't a 'cash cow' to be milked whenever they get a bug up their butt.

Zelig · Feb 29, 2008, 04:14 PM

If they want to operate in the EU, they have to play by the EU's rules. Similarly, if any companies from the EU want to operate in the US, they have to operate by US laws.

BlueMak · Feb 29, 2008, 05:22 PM

Apart from the UK perhaps, in most of EU the people trust the EU institutions, a lot. If you think the people would "rise" against the EU or the EC in particular, you have no idea the situation here. The EU resembles socialist type of control more and more. Combined with a general anti americanism, there is a greater chance Osama Bin Laden will say the USA is right, than europeans fight the EU cause it hurt an american company. Also don't forget the american company we are talking about. Hardly the most loved company.
If MS wants to come out a winner they will need to do 1 or 2 things. Play by the rules or Pay by the rules. Only the first one is solely paying the fines.

Feb 27, 2008, 04:43 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,821 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	EU fines Microsoft record $1.4bn The European Commission has fined US computer giant Microsoft for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour. Microsoft must now pay a record 899m euros ($1.4bn; £680.9m) after it failed to comply with a 2004 ruling that it abused its position. The ruling said that Microsoft was guilty of not providing key code to rival software makers.EU regulators said the firm was the first to break an EU anti-trust ruling. The fines come on top of earlier fines of 280m euros imposed in July 2006, and of 497m euros in March 2004. ______________ Source: BBC News __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Feb 27, 2008, 10:05 PM	#3
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	easi soultion don't have any microsoft owned busnnesss locations in the EU and they can STFU or use linux. thier a beast but anyone should be collecting fines its the US goverment... __________________

Feb 29, 2008, 01:08 PM	#4
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	If I'm Bill Gates, I tell the European Commission to put their fine(s) where the sun don't shine. Not much the European Commission can do at that point other than shut down MS operations in the EU. At that point, I say "Fine", and shut down access to all online updates, etc from anywhere in the EU. I then sit back and watch all the businesses, and people in the EU force the European Commission to back off. That way I win and the European Commission is the 'Bad guy'. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Feb 29, 2008, 01:29 PM	#5
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Microsoft has far more to lose if they shut down their european operations than 1.4 billion US dollars. Don't let misguided nationalism cloud your judgement. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Feb 29, 2008, 03:34 PM	#6
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	You obviously missed the point. MS doesn't shut down, they make the European Commission shut them down. Then the REAL PEOPLE in the EU will force the European Commission to back off. MS wouldn't be 'down' for any significant amount of time. "misguided nationalism" has nothing to do with it. It's all a mattter of MS letting the European Commission know that they aren't a 'cash cow' to be milked whenever they get a bug up their butt. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Feb 27, 2008, 06:25 PM	#2
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Son of a bitch must pay! But I wonder if they've actually put out a single euro so far. Anyway, Intel's next.

Feb 29, 2008, 04:14 PM	#7
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	If they want to operate in the EU, they have to play by the EU's rules. Similarly, if any companies from the EU want to operate in the US, they have to operate by US laws. __________________ --

Feb 29, 2008, 05:22 PM	#8
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Apart from the UK perhaps, in most of EU the people trust the EU institutions, a lot. If you think the people would "rise" against the EU or the EC in particular, you have no idea the situation here. The EU resembles socialist type of control more and more. Combined with a general anti americanism, there is a greater chance Osama Bin Laden will say the USA is right, than europeans fight the EU cause it hurt an american company. Also don't forget the american company we are talking about. Hardly the most loved company. If MS wants to come out a winner they will need to do 1 or 2 things. Play by the rules or Pay by the rules. Only the first one is solely paying the fines. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*