"The significance of this ruling for the [European] commission is that we have been reinforced and confirmed in our approach in putting consumers before innovation and research and we have been supported in our interpretation of competition policy," Neelie Kroes, EU competition commissioner, told reporters yesterday.
Brussels is now expected to step up its cases against three other US technology groups - Intel, the dominant microprocessor manufacturer, and fellow chip-makers Rambus and Qualcomm. In July she accused Intel of granting illegal rebates, notably in Japan, to capture customers tempted to buy products from smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices, which claims that Intel has won monopoly profits of $60bn over 10 years.
Rambus stands accused of illegally obtaining patents on an industry standard for memory chips and of not properly disclosing these patents when demanding royalty payments from its rivals. Qualcomm, the second-largest maker of chips for mobile phones, faces complaints from Nokia, Ericsson and others that it overcharges for patent royalties for third-generation phones. The EU has yet to open a formal investigation.
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News source: Guardian Unlimited
Brussels is now expected to step up its cases against three other US technology groups - Intel, the dominant microprocessor manufacturer, and fellow chip-makers Rambus and Qualcomm. In July she accused Intel of granting illegal rebates, notably in Japan, to capture customers tempted to buy products from smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices, which claims that Intel has won monopoly profits of $60bn over 10 years.
Rambus stands accused of illegally obtaining patents on an industry standard for memory chips and of not properly disclosing these patents when demanding royalty payments from its rivals. Qualcomm, the second-largest maker of chips for mobile phones, faces complaints from Nokia, Ericsson and others that it overcharges for patent royalties for third-generation phones. The EU has yet to open a formal investigation.
View: Full story News source: Guardian Unlimited
I have family and friends in America, I am not anti American!
Unfortunately it is human nature "to kick a person when down"
Doesn't make it right.
The view that monopolies are bad for competition, and in turn bad for the customer, is not as a result of US political prejudice. If you are big on world economics then you'll know the benefits of a free market too. Same goes for Microsoft, and nobody is asking them to "break up" as you first said. It isn't just the EU trying to flex their muscles either, companies like Nokia and Ericsson are making complaints as the article says.
I'm afraid I must agree. This Neelie Kroes seems to have gotten drunk on her own power and now appears to be pursuing cases merely because she can.
This bureaucratic nightmare with her endless supply of expensive red tape are really becoming a problem. Reminds me of how everyone simply put up with Adolf Hitler in the '30s in the hope that he would eventually go away without causing too many problems. Well, we all know how that worked out, don't we?
Oooooooooooorrr we would just:
a) Buy AMD processors and
b) save the money we flood into MS and send half that amount to Linux and open-source projects and watch Microsoft really feel the pinch from the voice of the Europeans
There are nearly twice as many people in the EU than in the US, and the majority of the EU spend way more on Microsoft products than the US population do (if for nothing more than the fact that the Euro is stronger than the $US), which makes the EU a critical market! They could pull out of the EU and survive, but they would lose a massive market share, and you'd rapidly see monopolies disappear in favour of newer ones [can something that is free have a monopoly?].
If MS and Intel were to pull out of the EU, I guarantee that they would be worse off than we.
I agree with this. It seems like the EU really needs the money. Why don't we ever hear of them attacking business' in Europe? To me, it really seems as it they're only going after American business'. The EU is one step closer to the NWO.
I knew some of the anti-EU people were ignorant, but damn, this takes some beating.
Microsoft and Intel have shareholders, meaning they would never pull out of the EU if there was money to be made. And so what if they leave? We'll buy AMD CPUs and use Linux. Simple.
Try researching what the Dark Ages were, and then compare America to Europe, and then ask yourself who's better off today. Dark Ages my arse. America's 50 years behind Western Europe when it comes to race relations and the welfare of the people. What, you don't have universal healthcare yet?
Last edited by kronix2 on 18 Sep 2007 - 21:37
I agree with this. It seems like the EU really needs the money. Why don't we ever hear of them attacking business' in Europe? To me, it really seems as it they're only going after American business'. The EU is one step closer to the NWO.
Why are so many of these anti-EU people conspiracy theorists, anarcho-capitalists and zealous nationalists?
The EC has gone after European companies such as Siemens. If you've got a problem with the EC bringing suits against American companies, feel free to write to Intel and ask them to stop trading within the EU.
Because Americans are only interested with stories with "America" in them ... do you care about the countless cases of European, and Asian, companies being regulated in Europe?
The Uncle Sam squad would have nothing to say and well Ron Paul would be quite meaningless in the topic too.
Just because we don't let indecent business practices run riot makes us seem poor? Regardless of the amount of money, this is a punishment for not abiding by EU business law. Just because MS are the worlds biggest software company doesn't make them above the law.
I don't care what the US does, as rather than take action they're more likely to give them a tax break, but as a consumer in the EU I certainly DO care about a fair marketplace and I support the EU should it decide to launch proceedings against these companies.
For me, I'm a non-Windows user, which makes AMD line up a non-starter for me; they've just started to release the ATI specifications, but even still, their product line is off limit until they partner with a wireless company who is willing to open up their specifications - why the bloody heck they went with Broadcom, god only knows. Realtek, although not absolutely the best, atleast provides specifications to those who ask; an AMD CPU + ATI GPU + Realtek Wireless/Wired/Sound would make it a winner for me. Until then, AMD is off the radar for me.
Funny how everybody jumps on Intel's side when it's the EU/EC going after them for abusive market practices.
Funny how everybody jumps on Intel's side when it's the EU/EC going after them for abusive market practices.
Mate, they changed - there is a difference; Microsoft was changed by force, Intel changed by choice.
Oh, and the reason I like Intel is because they firstly helping opensource and secondly they're actually working with developers - which is more than I can say for AMD who have flat out refused to work with the opensource community.
Whats their alternative to Centrino? a half-assed AMD Frankenstein combination of BroadCom and AMD stuff thrown on a board - all working terribly with alternative operating systems; some would say just as bad with Windows as well.
If America does everything right, how come their country is in such a mess. "Wake up America!" You can't live on credit for ever. One of your traditional enemies (China) now has control of your economy (holding $1000,000,000,000), and supplying you with poisonous goods!
I spout this, not because I hate the US (I don't), but because if the US goes down, there will be world chaos!
If America does everything right, how come their country is in such a mess. "Wake up America!" You can't live on credit for ever. One of your traditional enemies (China) now has control of your economy (holding $1000,000,000,000), and supplying you with poisonous goods!
I spout this, not because I hate the US (I don't), but because if the US goes down, there will be world chaos!
Unfortunately in the US, so-called 'important issues' like gays, guns and god take precedent over 'trivial' issues such as energy security, job creation, balancing the budget, improving the trade imbalance. You know, things that don't win votes in the red neck states.
You do realise that what has been occurring is against basic free-market principles and results in the consumer having to pay more. Nokia and Ericsson aren't going to soak up the bumped up cost of those chips they're simply going to pass on the cost to the consumer. And if you're alright with that happening in the US that's fine, but don't have a dig at the EU because you're fine with fixed prices.
Why are people so concerned? A company operating within the EU needs to abide by the relevant laws, the same as a company operating within the US.
What about the huge protection afforded to US airlines? And the fact that a foreign company cannot get a majority holding of a US airline? So that's alright, because it's a US law in the US but it's not alright for the EU to protect consumers in the EU? That's some pretty fuzzy logic.
Last edited by beardedwonder on 18 Sep 2007 - 21:45
You do realise that what has been occurring is against basic free-market principles and results in the consumer having to pay more. Nokia and Ericsson aren't going to soak up the bumped up cost of those chips they're simply going to pass on the cost to the consumer. And if you're alright with that happening in the US that's fine, but don't have a dig at the EU because you're fine with fixed prices.
Why are people so concerned? A company operating within the EU needs to abide by the relevant laws, the same as a company operating within the US.
What about the huge protection afforded to US airlines? And the fact that a foreign company cannot get a majority holding of a US airline? So that's alright, because it's a US law in the US but it's not alright for the EU to protect consumers in the EU? That's some pretty fuzzy logic.
Mate, there is a HUGE difference; I can go out right now and purchase an AMD based laptop or desktop from any number of vendors - the fact is, I choose not to because AMD are crap. If AMD want to win my busieness, they need to get their act together.
You seem to be going off on some tangent that has nothing to with this. This is not specifically about your choice, it is about the consumers choice. If Intel use their dominant position in the industry to force companies to use Intel processors instead of AMD ones that is an abuse of power and illegal. You may have had even more choice as to where to buy an AMD system had Intel not (alledgedly) been rigging the market.
That is what the Intel case is about, nothing to do with who currently holds the 'fastest/best/whatever crown' or your personal preferences, it is about a company breaking the law, and if a company breaks the law they should pay the consequences.
You seem to be going off on some tangent that has nothing to with this. This is not specifically about your choice, it is about the consumers choice. If Intel use their dominant position in the industry to force companies to use Intel processors instead of AMD ones that is an abuse of power and illegal. You may have had even more choice as to where to buy an AMD system had Intel not (alledgedly) been rigging the market.
That is what the Intel case is about, nothing to do with who currently holds the 'fastest/best/whatever crown' or your personal preferences, it is about a company breaking the law, and if a company breaks the law they should pay the consequences.
You have some major reading issues; if I can't get it, then no one can get it; I am an ordinary consumer. I can go down the road and choose from over a dozen manufacturers with AMD devices in them.
If choice was SO severely limited, then I certainly wouldn't be able to do so - now would I? There is a huge bloody difference between Microsoft and Intel. You could ALWAYS purchase products with AMD CPU's in them.
If choice was SO severely limited, then I certainly wouldn't be able to do so - now would I? There is a huge bloody difference between Microsoft and Intel. You could ALWAYS purchase products with AMD CPU's in them.
I can assure you it is you that has not understood the problem. This is not about whether they're available, of course they're available but the fact that Intel are illegally pressuring computer makers into using their chips when, without this 'persuasion' they may have chosen AMD chips. AMD then produces more chips bringing down the cost per unit giving them the ability to bring down their price therefore forcing Intel to bring their price down.
If there was no problem then why would this be happening:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/so..._against_intel/
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3697541
Of course, you can chose to simply ignore the fact that Intel will, most probably, be being investigated by 3 seperate bodies in 3 seperate countries. Surely that provides some sort of proof that Intel are operating unfairly.
Also should point out that Intel just happened to lose a hell of a lot of emails that were pertinent to the antitrust case
AMD wants Intel to recover missing e-mails
And i should reiterate, if a company operates illegally it should be punished subject to the laws in the respective country/area.
EU - essentially useless? Well not really, infact the 27 european countries acting alone is pretty useless in combatting American (and soon to be Chinese) hegemony, the biggest union of countries and biggest economy, with a currency supported by a bigger economy than the dollar, sounds like an extremely useful idea ... now I wonder why America, would be a tiny bit scared of the EU? hmm ...
They go after loads, I doubt you read about them ... I wonder why
What company do you work for?
Which EU markets are you in? Which rules and regulations are you finding it takes a lot of time to follow?
Since when the the EU have jurisdiction over what happens in Japan? If Intel broke the law in Japan, then let the Japanese fight them in court. So if tomorrow the EU passes a law forbidding showering every day, and I break that law here in the US, that means the EU can take me to court? And people do not think that the EU is abusing their power?
U.S trade panel to probe Qualcomm chips
3rd Circuit Rules on Patent Holders' Antitrust Liability in Qualcomm Case
Antitrust Group Encourages Investigation Of Intel
South Korea chucks antitrust charges at Intel
As for the comment about the EU going for US companies, well the technology field is dominated by companies from Silicon Valley, who have huge market share and are abusing it.
So who's going to have a go at the South Koreans now? Or maybe the US FTC, the American antitrust institute or a US federal court? Or are we still going to get this misplaced patriotism?
EDIT: The FTC found Rambus engaged in anticompetitive conduct and violated antitrust law in 2006.
Last edited by beardedwonder on 19 Sep 2007 - 00:23
As stated above, all 3 companies are in trouble here and in other countries for the same thing the EU is accusing them of, makes sense that it would happen.
Please look up "Carroll Quigley" in Wilipedia (a US professor) and read the two pages of text, it may change your life.
Then:
Google "new world order +UN" (less quotation marks! )
Google "Council on Foreign Relations +Rockefeller" (see how many presidents were members )
Google "Chatham House +Rockefeller" (British version of the Council on Foreign Relations )
Google "trilateral commission +Rockefeller"
Google "scull and bones +Rockefeller" (Bush and Kerry are a member of this 600 strong club! )
Google "Bohemian club Bohemian grove"
Google "Bilderberg Group"
Google "Amero +"North American Union"
I have little time for the EU, but it's all part of the same thing: NWO!
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