The European Union's top antitrust regulator is set to issue a formal ruling finding software giant Microsoft Corp. guilty of breaking EU competition rules, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The paper said Microsoft could face fines of up to 2 million euros ($2.51 million) a day. Quoting people familiar with the situation, the Financial Times said the European Commission's antitrust directorate had drafted a ruling according to which Microsoft had failed to fully implement the EU's March 2004 antitrust decision.
That decision included an order to provide rival companies with "complete and accurate" information about its Windows operating system, a step Brussels has said is needed for other firms to build products compatible with the Microsoft system. "The Commission's process calls for an advisory committee meeting, so this comes as no surprise," Microsoft said in a statement, adding it had committed "massive resources to the technical documentation program" and had already delivered five of seven instalments.
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News source: CRN
That decision included an order to provide rival companies with "complete and accurate" information about its Windows operating system, a step Brussels has said is needed for other firms to build products compatible with the Microsoft system. "The Commission's process calls for an advisory committee meeting, so this comes as no surprise," Microsoft said in a statement, adding it had committed "massive resources to the technical documentation program" and had already delivered five of seven instalments.
View: The full story News source: CRN
Microsoft is going to have to do something to stop this extortion or it'll never end. The problem with blackmailers is that they are inherently greedy; they just don't know how to quit while they're ahead.
Europe isnt USA folks, here you dont mess with the people just as you do in USA, our laws here are decent, play our game or get lost, Microsoft.
There is absolutely nothing in this case that Microsoft haven't bought upon themselves. If this makes me the all too predictable name of MS-Basher or whatever other name the many typical Neowin kiddies dream up for it whis week, so be it. I'm just glad that our EU courts are not as soft with MS as the US courts appear to be.
As paperless states above, it's not rocket-science; we're not the USA; play by our rules or face the consequences. You'd think MS would/could figure it out.
They gave them a media player free version of windows. they gave them the documentation to the apis and even gave them the windows source code.
alkso this is from microsofts site
"For server software developers who take a license under this program, Microsoft previously had created more than twelve thousand pages of technical documentation covering specifications for the communications protocols covered by the 2004 Decision as well additional technology going beyond those protocols. In addition, Microsoft previously offered voluntarily to provide up to five hundred hours of free technical support from experienced Microsoft professionals who can answer any questions licensees might have. With today's announcement Microsoft has supplemented these resources with a new license for all of the Windows Server source code that implements all of the communications protocols covered by the 2004 Decision."
How is this not enough. No matter what you anti Microsoft people say the EU is now Extorting Microsoft.
Microsft gave them everything they asked for.
Also there is tech net and msdn that they have to. What more do they want from Microsoft?
Oh, really?
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,19366...-Page001-173283
Incomplete and unusable documentation would not qualify as "everything" in my book.
To fully and in good faith comply with the laws of the jurisdictions were they have business interests. Your opinion makes no difference. They were convicted of a crime and have failed to comply with the original ruling issued in March 2004. Microsoft could easily avoid these fines by complying with the court ruling. They have chosen to make every effort to avoid doing so, and these fines are the result. Now, $2.51 million/day is just a tiny drop-in-the-bucket for both MS and the EU, so MS is just hoping that if they drag there feet slow, long, and hard enough, the outcome will be the same as vs. the DOJ in the US. The EU is taking the corrective measures the US should have taken a long time ago.
I'm not a MS hater (it's just a company for Christ's sake), but they need to be held accountable just like everyone else. If you don't like the rulings, pressure your political representatives to change the laws, but don't feel sorry for the company. Ignorance, indifference, and political jockeying are not acceptable defenses.
If anything, I hope that actions like this shake the foundations in Redmond (fear of competition can increase innovation) and cause MS to produce better products for their customers (me).
Oh, really?
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,19366...-Page001-173283
Incomplete and unusable documentation would not qualify as "everything" in my book.
From the article you linked to they stated its not trying to get programs on Windows working faster its trying to get linux to work with windows.
ALl these arguments of Microsoft complying are being based off the wrong things
"But the EC said that the latest report from Barrett indicated that Microsoft had not yet complied with the obligation to disclose complete and accurate interface documentation which would allow non-Microsoft work group servers to achieve full interoperability with Windows PCs and servers."
Oh, really?
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,19366...-Page001-173283
Incomplete and unusable documentation would not qualify as "everything" in my book.
Do you know how they came to that determination? They had a guy try to write a program that performed an "add user to domain" operation. From scratch. In less than a week.
He failed, what a shock.
When asked what in the documentation needed improvement, all the EU will state is that the requirements of the documentation are clearly specified in the original anti-trust ruling, and that ruling contains all the information Microsoft needs to comply. In other words, they won't tell Microsoft what in the documentation needs improvement in order to "comply".
Its a simple fact that if microsoft cannot comply with the laws (yes laws, this isn't lobbying like the US here) of a certain region then they should either shape up and comply with the laws or leave the region. (which i highly doubt microsoft would consider doing, their stockbrokers would have a fit if they pulled out of the EU market, not to mention the massive stronghold linux/Mac OSX could have on the market)
The ruling DOES contain all the information Microsoft needs to comply. Ignorance is not a defense. They are just dragging their feet (2 YEARS!!!
I'm pretty sure Microsoft has the financial resources available to contract a small study group to perform the same task of writing a sample app from the supplied Microsoft documentation. It is not the E.U.s job to do all the identification of defeciencies, but they could be a bit more cooperative than they seem to be.
Its a simple fact that if microsoft cannot comply with the laws (yes laws, this isn't lobbying like the US here) of a certain region then they should either shape up and comply with the laws or leave the region. (which i highly doubt microsoft would consider doing, their stockbrokers would have a fit if they pulled out of the EU market, not to mention the massive stronghold linux/Mac OSX could have on the market)
Then answer why other companies don't have to disclose proprietary info? If it is disclosed then it should be under license and an NDA. Just because a greedy law maker says 'monopoly' doesn't make it so. A monopoly is where there is no choice. There clearly is choice.
Powerful companies/corporations (by size definition) have very limited sway in the EU legal system and, at times, you could be forgiven for believing that the UK at least would rather have no legal system than one which is dictated by large corporations, their donations, or whatever other contributions they might make. Our judges are far too full of self-importance to have anyone encroach on their ground.
I'm not suggesting for a second that the EU legal system has never and will never be swayed by any of the above, but it's very much the exception, not the rule. Microsoft may be one of the biggest and best things in their home country, but in Europe they're just another company and are, therefore, subject to the laws of our lands.
It is wholly immaterial whether you or I agree or disagree with those laws. They are the laws; work within them and do business, or work outsode of them and face prosecution. Either way is a choice. MS chose their particular path and I'm afraid there is absolutely no reasonable excuse for it. Now is the time to pay for their particular choice. The saddening thing is that you can be assured they will attempt the exact same thing in the future. It's shown to be one of their main business practises.
I for one am proud of the EU for not buckling in as the US court system appeared to.
It is "Bill Gates" that you are thinking of as the big contributer to charity.
The rest of your comment belongs in RWI, and not in here.
and don't call me some ignorant american. i might be ignorant but i'm british ;D
- I'm so proud of EU for not buckling under the pressure like US DOJ.
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