Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 27th Feb 2008 18:33 UTC, submitted by JJ
"Microsoft was fined a record 899 million euros (USD 1.35 billion) by the European Commission on Wednesday for using high prices to discourage software competition in the latest sanction in their long-running battle. The executive arm of the European Union said the U.S. software group defied a 2004 order from Brussels to provide the information on reasonable terms. Microsoft has now been fined a total of 1.68 billion euros by the EU for abusing its 95 percent dominance of PC operating systems through Windows."
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RE[7]: Comment by moleskine
by tomcat on Fri 29th Feb 2008 08:45
in reply to "RE[6]: Comment by moleskine"
Member since:2006-01-06
Sure, and the US is a picture of bureaucratic efficiency.
Straw man. I don't care about comparisons between the US and European bureaucracies. Neither has any appeal to me.
I don't see what your obvious anti socialist biased has to do with MS getting fined
The actions of the EU bureaucracy haven't yielded ANY practical benefits to the computer industry. They've simply sucked $$$ from the private sector into the public sector.
It's a well known fact that MS made substantial financial contributions to Dubia's election campaigns, in exchange for political pressure being put on the US supreme court, effectively buying themselves a 'get out of fines free' card. To claim otherwise, you'd have to quite obviously be high :-p.
If it's indeed a "well known fact", then you won't mind actually providing a verifiable reference.
I find that statement very hard to believe.
Given that you believe that tripe conspiracy theory about the U.S. Supreme Court, you're going to have to work harder to feign disbelief.
Mudslinging I'd be more willing to consider if it came from an obviously non biased source.
I don't see why you'd oppose a truly independent review of the protocols. What are you worried about? Worried that your sacred cows in the EU might have played you for a sap?
Edited 2008-02-29 08:46 UTC
RE[8]: Comment by moleskine
by SReilly on Fri 29th Feb 2008 09:28
in reply to "RE[7]: Comment by moleskine"
Member since:2006-12-28
The actions of the EU bureaucracy haven't yielded ANY practical benefits to the computer industry. They've simply sucked $$$ from the private sector into the public sector.
They most certainly have. Documentation bought by the Samba team is already being used to great effect. I will also happily enter into any reasonable wager that the outcome of forcing MS to open up their specs will lead to major repercussions in the private sector. It's plain to see that only after MS had any serious competition in a market did they decided to improve their offerings, i.e. IE in case you haven't noticed. Forcing these robber barrens to play fair is the only way we will ever get a level playing field, something somebody with anti socialist sentiments surely would approve of.
If it's indeed a "well known fact", then you won't mind actually providing a verifiable reference.
How about the sum of $9 million to both US parties since 1999? http://www.campaignmoney.com/microsoft.asp
Mind you, those figures are only what the company contributed. There is also a list of personal contributions further down the page.
As for getting of lightly due to government involvement, first link provided by Google did the trick there. Here is an interesting excerpt.
"Settlement negotiations could resume in the case, with the Justice Department's side under new Republican leadership. But state attorneys general, who worked alongside federal prosecutors, have vowed to press ahead with their separate case."
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/28/business/28WIRE-SOFT.html
Remember, Google is your friend.
I don't see why you'd oppose a truly independent review of the protocols. What are you worried about? Worried that your sacred cows in the EU might have played you for a sap?
I don't and never said I do. I just find it hard to believe anything you say, that's all. Straw man indeed.
Member since:
2006-12-28
Sure, and the US is a picture of bureaucratic efficiency. I don't see what your obvious anti socialist biased has to do with MS getting fined, but then in my experience, libertarians generally don't think all that straight.
Oh please [rolls eyes], be gentle with my bruised ego! It's a well known fact that MS made substantial financial contributions to Dubia's election campaigns, in exchange for political pressure being put on the US supreme court, effectively buying themselves a 'get out of fines free' card. To claim otherwise, you'd have to quite obviously be high :-p.
I find that statement very hard to believe. Mudslinging I'd be more willing to consider if it came from an obviously non biased source.