Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 6th Aug 2009 22:04 UTC
Just when you thought the world couldn't get any crazier, something happens that makes you move your expectations of the world up a few nothces. We already have to deal with the browser ballot, but that's not the only ballot Microsoft will deliver. Hold on to your panties, as Microsoft will also offer a file format ballot in Microsoft Office 2010. On a happier note, Microsoft makes a whole load of promises to the EU about opening up technologies and file formats.
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Member since:
2006-01-19
If Microsoft asks for guidelines how to make a product, the EU comission does not need to know if that is OK or not.
If a competitor comes along and asserts that something with the product distorts the market, then the first thing the EU commission asks for the both of them to specify how each of them wants the product to be. Then they ask both parties to agree on something.
ONLY if they cannot agree on something, the EU commision takes the interest to learn what is going on, how it relates to EU regulations, and specifies how things should be. ONLY when the company does not comply with that, fines are set to bring them in line.
Microsoft tried this out the hard way, when they repeatedly (!) refused to hand out useful interoperability specs for the SMB and AT protocols.
Even then, they did not get fined a really big amount of money until it was obvious they don't want to comply. Microsoft came into compliance only after they got a fine on a daily basis until they were in compliance.
NOW Microsoft is in a REALLY sticky situation. They are known in the EU commission as feet-dragging market bullies. You can imagine, that the EU commission will send them a big invoice now every time they start playing the same game as between 2004 and 2008. But the EU will NEVER fine them if they make an honest move to get into compliance if non-compliance should happen to them inadvertently, as long as they were acting to put things right FAST.