Microsoft may face daily EU fine

BBC ^ | 2005/12/22 14:56:33 GMT | bbc

[zeugma]

THis may cost Microsoft a fair penny, but it's still pocket change to them.

[twoputt]

Exactly. Bill Gates should just buy the EU and be done with it.

[VeniVidiVici]

Pocket change or not it's still BS.

[ShadowAce]

[randog]

Typical socialists--dictate from on high rather than let the marketplace decide. The EU has their own crafty Norwegian that produced an open source OS--mandate its use if they must have open source software.

[Doohickey]

Microsoft haters, rejoice! Private industry and other supporters of capitalism, bend over!

[ShadowAce]

The EU has their own crafty Norwegian Finn that produced an open source OS

Fixed it.

[contemplator]

The people of the EU are well within their rights to not buy Microsoft software. Let em eat cake.

[randog]

Thanks. I must have been overcome with a bout of Scandilexia...;^)

[Porterville]

Pull out of the EU; make them come up with their own products for once. Lazy sobs.

[Cicero]

I wish MicroSoft would just pull out and let them use open source software for a while. If they want to set the rules, let them make their own software.

[4rcane]

Most people will just shrug and say, MS have a deep pocket, so who cares. This is an atttempt by EU to kill Microsoft

[Fee]

I think Microsoft should consider pulling out of the EU and let their computer systems become outdated as they struggle to replace the Microsoft OS. Microsoft may lose short term business, but the EU would be hardpressed as the competing US and Asian corporations upgrade their computers every 18 months on Microsoft OS and hammer the hamstrung EU companies. It would end this EU attempt to access US trade secrets via commissions.

[caver]

Or Microsoft could unleash viruses all over the EU and bring them to their knees. Oh wait, they're already doing that.

[Glenn]

This is an atttempt by EU to kill Microsoft

It's an attempt by the EU to have a cash flow to support lavish living in Brussels.

[ShadowAce]

I must have been overcome with a bout of Scandilexia...;^)

LOL! That's good. I like that line.

[zeugma]

I don't know the particulars of everything the EU is asking for from MS, but in general, I believe that interoperability is good for everyone but microsoft. The majority of what the EU is pushing for is the opening up of APIs and protocols to allow other products to operate and integrate smoothly with microsoft products.

Samba has spent years attempting to provide connectivity to windows resources from non-windows computers such as those running UNIX, Linux, IBM System 390, OpenVMS, and other operating systems. This interoperability is a good thing, and it has taken much work to implement because the protocols used by microsoft are opaque, and must be reverse-engineered after every change. This is a waste of resources IMO, that could be better applied elsewhere.

[newcthem]

I wish MicroSoft would just pull out and let them use open source software for a while. If they want to set the rules, let them make their own software.

This would be great.....unfortunately Gates is far too polically correct to ever do the right thing.

[antiRepublicrat]

I think Microsoft should consider pulling out of the EU and let their computer systems become outdated as they struggle to replace the Microsoft OS.

Then they simply switch to Mac or Linux. It'll be a bit of a migration, but nothing that can't be overcome. Microsoft will NEVER allow its virtual monopoly to be broken, and pulling out of the EU would blow that there, and show to the world that you can run without Microsoft. I don't think that would be acceptable to Microsoft.

[TechJunkYard]

.. this EU attempt to access US trade secrets via commissions.

Any other companies that you know of consider interoperability information as a "trade secret"?

And which part of convicted monopolist do you not understand?