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EU fines Microsoft record 899 million euros

Alessandro17

By Alessandro17,
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Alessandro17
Alessandro17
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http://www.financialexpress.com/news/EU-fi...n-euros/277760/

 

Brussels, February 27: Microsoft was fined a record 899 million euros ($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 US software group defied a 2004 order from Brussels to provide the information on reasonable terms.

SDRacer48
SDRacer48
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The EU is a typical greedy slip-and-fall American. :P

 

They sue over anything, and I am still waiting for them to go after Apple. They integrate their own software into OS X more than Microsoft does into Windows now. pfff...

borisbadenov
borisbadenov
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The EU is a typical greedy slip-and-fall American. :P

 

They sue over anything, and I am still waiting for them to go after Apple. They integrate their own software into OS X more than Microsoft does into Windows now. pfff...

 

 

I could not agree with you any more.

Forceman
Forceman
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The EU is a typical greedy slip-and-fall American. :P

 

They sue over anything, and I am still waiting for them to go after Apple. They integrate their own software into OS X more than Microsoft does into Windows now. pfff...

 

Some people just dont understand this just like you, if you do business in the EU you should play by our laws, the EU asked Microsoft for information which they didn't provide. When you next go to court and they ask you for info, dont send it and see what happens.

Forceman
Forceman
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It's not like Microsoft can't afford it, they will just drop a cheque in the post to the EU, and they fine them on a percentage of their gross earning(something to that effect) not just make any amount up.

SDRacer48
SDRacer48
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@icody: read before you post

 

I did, I have, and I will continue to read about this ongoing battle between Microsoft and those gold diggers in the EU.

 

It is ridiculos that they are going after Microsoft because of a high price. Apple's products are double as expensive as they are in the United States. Do you see a fine going to Apple. NO.

 

And it is not iCody, do you not see the strikethrough. :P

 

Some people just dont understand this just like you, if you do business in the EU you should play by our laws, the EU asked Microsoft for information which they didn't provide. When you next go to court and they ask you for info, dont send it and see what happens.

 

I am not saying that they shouldn't. But the EU is getting fluffing ridiculous.

 

Microsoft removed Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 7 for the EU. Now the EU wants all of thier information so Microsoft can't even have an advantage when it comes to their own software. That is complete and total bull {censored}. Especially since Microsoft is a SOFTWARE COMPANY, and the EU does not do a damn thing to anyone else.

 

I am just wanting to see equallity. That is all.

 

Why doesn't the EU go after Apple for only making their operating system available on only Apple Hardware? Don't give me that Apple is a hardware company reason. We all know that. Microsoft is a software company, and the EU is trying to take away their software advantage.

 

Why doesn't the EU go after Apple for integrating Safari, iTunes, Calendar, iChat, and more? Becuase it works good and nobody needs anything else? That is a load of {censored}. It is because Apple doesn't have a big enough piece of the pie to satisfy the EU's gold digging ways.

 

Microsoft is the richest in the bunch. What is the mantra for suing someone? Sue the person with the most money or sue the person at the top (i.e. Microsoft). That is all it is. An attempt to sue for the sake of suing and gaining unearned cash.

 

It's not like Microsoft can't afford it, they will just drop a cheque in the post to the EU, and they fine them on a percentage of their gross earning(something to that effect) not just make any amount up.

 

Let us not forget that Microsoft is a business. It is not the matter of Microsoft affording it, it is the matter of increasing the bottom line as much as possible (key rule of business).

 

No matter what, it doesn't matter what you, I, or anyone else say or think. The EU is still going to be their gold digging self when it comes to elite companies and their rightfully earned dominance in the market place.

 

Personally, if I was Bill Gates, I would give the EU a big middle finger and pull my product. That would be a big loss of profits, but like Forceman said "It's not like Microsoft can't afford it". So it makes sense...

 

Anti-Trust Lawsuit. pfff...

 

;)

Forceman
Forceman
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Apple is not a monopoly thats why, theres no proof that Apple is gaining a competitive advantage with the apps Apple include. You can put any apps in your OS by default, the fact is that Microsoft have been found to do that to gain a monopoly and use it to stop competition. Also you couldn't uninstall IE and on the next updates the IE icon would appear.

SDRacer48
SDRacer48
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Apple is not a monopoly thats why, theres no proof that Apple is gaining a competitive advantage with the apps Apple include. You can put any apps in your OS by default, the fact is that Microsoft have been found to do that to gain a monopoly and use it to stop competition. Also you couldn't uninstall IE and on the next updates the IE icon would appear.

 

The only reason Microsoft is a "monopoly" is because they weren't dumb enough to let go of one of their creators (i.e. Apple parting ways with Jobs) and they capitalized when the opportunity was available.

 

Nobody has researched or felt like looking into Apple trying to gain a competitive advantage with the apps Apple includes because Apple doesn't have a majority of the market share.

 

I will be the first to conduct the research. Most people buy an Apple computer because it has all these cool apps like iWeb, iTunes, iPhoto, and more. There is your competitive advantage.

 

Please quit trying to justify an unjustifiable EU. It is actually quite pathetic. :)

 

Just because the IE appears during the Windows Update, doesn't mean you have to update it. Plus, to be completely honest. IE 7 is a huge leap past IE 6 and works quite nice for me (even though my main browser is firefox).

Forceman
Forceman
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The only reason Microsoft is a "monopoly" is because they weren't dumb enough to let go of one of their creators (i.e. Apple parting ways with Jobs) and they capitalized when the opportunity was available.

 

Nobody has researched or felt like looking into Apple trying to gain a competitive advantage with the apps Apple includes because Apple doesn't have a majority of the market share.

 

I will be the first to conduct the research. Most people buy an Apple computer because it has all these cool apps like iWeb, iTunes, iPhoto, and more. There is your competitive advantage.

 

Please quit trying to justify an unjustifiable EU. It is actually quite pathetic. :(

 

Just because the IE appears during the Windows Update, doesn't mean you have to update it. Plus, to be completely honest. IE 7 is a huge leap past IE 6 and works quite nice for me (even though my main browser is firefox).

 

Your not for real are you, so all OS's shouldn't have any software because it's a unfair advantage?, You do know that OS X came with IE and Safari on it's release. Please prove to me Apple are gaining a advantage with their apps, over who?

 

Go drop iTunes, Safari and the rest in the trash and delete them and see what happens.

SDRacer48
SDRacer48
Posted
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Your not for real are you, so all OS's shouldn't have any software because it's a unfair advantage?, You do know that OS X came with IE and Safari on it's release. Please prove to me Apple are gaining a advantage with their apps, over who?

 

Go drop iTunes, Safari and the rest in the trash and delete them and see what happens.

 

Thank you. That is exactly my point.

 

Microsoft was made to drop WMP 11 and IE 7. See what happens...

 

What happened was Windows Xp Version N (which stands for "Not getting a damn thing")

Forceman
Forceman
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No, I actually meant it, Go to the Applications folder and drop them in the trash basket and delete them, the EU forced them to make IE and WMP uninstallable just like you can do this in another OS. Safari has a default browser option and so does mail.

Alessandro17
Alessandro17
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  • Author
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Personally, if I was Bill Gates, I would give the EU a big middle finger and pull my product. That would be a big loss of profits, but like Forceman said "It's not like Microsoft can't afford it". So it makes sense...

 

I wish they did, but even with all their billions they can't afford losing the biggest and richest market in the world.

And please stop saying that "the EU is suing Microsoft", it is nothing like that. The European Commission, that is, the EU government, is fining Microsoft for not playing by our laws. That is a huge difference.

If the US government didn't have balls and/or could be easily bought, that is not the case with the European Commission.

SDRacer48
SDRacer48
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No, I actually meant it, Go to the Applications folder and drop them in the trash basket and delete them, the EU forced them to make IE and WMP uninstallable just like you can do this in another OS. Safari has a default browser option and so does mail.

 

Start > Control Panel > Add / Remove Programs > Add / Remove Windows Components > UnCheck Windows Media Player and UnCheck Internet Explorer > Apply

 

There you go, WMP and IE are both removed. But why does it matter. You can install VLC and Firefox and set them to your default programs very easily in both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

 

There is still no difference from Mac OS X in that regard...

apowerr
apowerr
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I understand that the EU clearly stated what they required of Microsoft, and that Microsoft failed to comply. I understand why the EU is fining them. I do not entirely agree with it.

 

sdracer is making a valid point. By making the information about their products readily available, there is no incentive for anyone to use Microsoft products over anything else. This is taking away Microsoft's self established edge in the industry.

 

In Vista you can easily change the defaults for web browsing, email, and file types. I hope that the EU leaves Microsoft alone after this current row is settled.

SDRacer48
SDRacer48
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My Last Words on this Subject.

 

If you disagree with what I say (partly or in whole), then I will agree to disagree with you.

 

It really doesn't matter or effect me any. I just feel it is unjust and a clear attempt to increase the cash flow of the EU.

 

Good Day or Night. :)

~pcwiz
~pcwiz
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I totally agree with sdracer. Apple is doing the exact same thing, but they are not as rich as MS so the EU don't go after them. You will see, when Apple gets enough of the market share they'll be complained at to death as well and maybe the fines will even bankrupt them. EU is just going after MS to steal their money.

Alessandro17
Alessandro17
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EU is just going after MS to steal their money.

 

I can't tolerate this nonsense! When (and if) the US government fines somebody for monopolistic practices, are they stealing their money? Is any government in the world which fines somebody for not obeying the law stealing their money?

I have an alternative suggestion: we'll put Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer in jail for 30 years if they don't comply. How about that?

Not only we won't steal their money, but they'll get free accomodation and food :)

Forceman
Forceman
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Start > Control Panel > Add / Remove Programs > Add / Remove Windows Components > UnCheck Windows Media Player and UnCheck Internet Explorer > Apply

 

There you go, WMP and IE are both removed. But why does it matter. You can install VLC and Firefox and set them to your default programs very easily in both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

 

There is still no difference from Mac OS X in that regard...

 

lol, you got that option because of the EU, Microsoft changed it so you could, you've just got no idea have you.

SDRacer48
SDRacer48
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lol, you got that option because of the EU, Microsoft changed it so you could, you've just got no idea have you.

 

That option has been available since W2K I believe.

 

So if it was from the EU, then what were they complaining about a year or so ago. Since this was something the EU installed before 1999 in W2K.

 

I obviously have no clue...

RobertX
RobertX
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microsux got fined for not following rules....apple has followed those same rules...thus no fine... and apple will never....never be accused of the abuses that microhard is guilty of.....apple makes a box...apple makes the box work...'nuff said :)

~pcwiz
~pcwiz
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I can't tolerate this nonsense! When (and if) the US government fines somebody for monopolistic practices, are they stealing their money? Is any government in the world which fines somebody for not obeying the law stealing their money?

I have an alternative suggestion: we'll put Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer in jail for 30 years if they don't comply. How about that?

Not only we won't steal their money, but they'll get free accomodation and food :)

 

Sorry didn't mean to get on your nerves, I guess I put that harshly. I'm just tired with the fact that its MS's software and they are free to do what they want to it and that governments are still going on about it. MS promoting their software is one thing, but a 899 million euro fine is another.

Forceman
Forceman
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That option has been available since W2K I believe.So if it was from the EU, then what were they complaining about a year or so ago. Since this was something the EU installed before 1999 in W2K.I obviously have no clue...
Right and did you know it never did remove the software fully, in the Clinton era they pretty much got them bang to rights and put that stuff in Win2k, now Microsoft are being fined for profit made that they shouldn't have. You think the EU fined Microsoft for fun, are you a lawyer, please tell me if Apple are breaking any rules?
Sorry didn't mean to get on your nerves, I guess I put that harshly. I'm just tired with the fact that its MS's software and they are free to do what they want to it and that governments are still going on about it. MS promoting their software is one thing, but a 899 million euro fine is another.
Yet another that doesn't realize what Microsoft did, you do realize it's not a big amount for Microsoft and they wouldn't have got fined if they abided by what the EU said in the first place, it's only something like 2% of their earnings.

 

If I earned 10,000 a year that would mean only £200 and I could probably pay that in installments over so long or have so many months to pay it.

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