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MS gets last chance to plead its European antitrust case

Daniel Fleshbourne   on 12 November 2003 - 09:40 · 10 comments & 457 views

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THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION is listening to Microsoft making oral representations this week before it makes a decision on whether to find against it for antitrust behaviour. Microsoft will, apparently, have to come up with highly convincing pleadings to avoid fines which could be as much as over $3.2 billion, or 10% of its worldwide revenues.

The oral pleadings last from today until the end of the week, and will be held during normal European office hours. The European Union's case against Microsoft is based on allegations that it tried to kybosh firms creating alternatives to Windows Media Player, and other practices which breach our laws in Europe. The plaintiffs in the case will also make last minute representations to the antitrust commissioners.

News source: The Inq


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#1 Cryptic_Night on 12 Nov 2003 - 14:17
Knowing Microsofts luck, they'll win the case and owe no money.

*sigh*
(4 replies) #2 MadDog on 12 Nov 2003 - 14:44
fines which could be as much as over $3.2 billion, or 10% of its worldwide revenues

That is obscene. The EU is desperate for money and figures that this is the easiest way to get it. They just can't get over the fact that capitalism is better for a society than socialism.
#2.1 Rambo2000 on 12 Nov 2003 - 20:38
Thats a stupid way to think, it's nothing to do with being desperate for money, it's got everything to do with finishing off what the US government didn't do, beside, it's unlikely the EU will fine them billions, that wont really hurt Microsoft, I think it's better to force Microsoft to open up a few of there standards, let other software companies have there software pre installed on windows, things like that.

Beside, if you knew anything about the EU, you'll know that the EU members are a mix of socialism and capitalism, the best of both worlds, if it was just socialism then Europeans in the EU would be poor which we all know they are far from poor.
#2.2 theh0g on 13 Nov 2003 - 08:16
QUOTE (#2.0)
The EU is desperate for money and figures that this is the easiest way to get it.

Another (my guess) american who probably doesn't even know where Europe is. If you ever read any news you'd see that Microsoft's own country, USA, is way more desperate for money with higher unemployment rate, economy crisis, a HUGE deficit, not to mention the useless war they're losing and throwing more and more money away for it ... maybe next time they'll think twice before electing a retarded monkeyboy for a president and a moviestar for a governer of the most important state.

And 3.2bn isn't even high for Microsoft, you don't know a thing about fines I see. What fine would you give them, $50? Yep, that'll teach them a lesson.
#2.3 Zatko55 on 13 Nov 2003 - 12:53
Fining microsoft is in no way gonna stem the beast or teach them a lesson, history shows it. The beast needs to be split into at least 2 entities and its software to support open standards unto which any competitor can enter the market and compete with them.
#2.4 theh0g on 13 Nov 2003 - 13:35
Zatko: I agree with you completely. But if they wanna fine Microsoft, they should fine it high enough.
(2 replies) #3 SimplyPotatoes on 12 Nov 2003 - 15:00
uhh wow all u microsoft haters why dont you read some onto it instead of inq's degrading news, really wish they would go back a few years ago , anyways this is a bs case those people are getting paid so much to make it go further, its such BS
#3.1 PseudoRandomDragon on 13 Nov 2003 - 03:46
You need to check your grammar before posting. Your arguments seem very childish and simple when they have that many grammatical errors.
#3.2 SimplyPotatoes on 13 Nov 2003 - 13:36
get a life n00b go back to the herd go visit www.englishteachers.com and have grammer battles with them, who the hell comes to a forum to enlighten others about correct gramer, its text OMG lol i cant stop laughin at you

Last edited by 34433 on 13 Nov 2003 - 15:54
#4 Torvald_Is_Our_King on 13 Nov 2003 - 04:19
Of course Microsoft will get out of it somehow, unscathed. It's sad. But even if they don't lose that 10% of revenues, their days are numbered already. Linux is rising fast -- RedHat is going commercial, making Enterprise Editions of Linux for as much as $8,000, and now that Novell has bought out SUSE, Microsoft is going to be seeing some BIG competition soon.

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