Comments on: Europe's not finished with Microsoft yet

By: cyclonex,San jose,CA

cyclonex,San jose,CA — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:17:08 +0000

First Computers were $2500 Brand New…Now it's ALOT Less..Cheap I May Say.

We Should Start Selling High Priced Computers to EU From the U.S.A…Just Like the cycle of brand new computers in the U.S.A when they were new..NOW EU gets cheap computers..Where were they When U.S.A folks paying $2500 For a new Computer?

Just The same old copycats that need a good whack in the head.

GET YOUR OWN Operating SYSTEM !

By: Derrek Groeneveld, Oxford, UK

Derrek Groeneveld, Oxford, UK — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:34:04 +0000

Nice article but some odd pseudo parallels raised by some of the commenters.

While the concept of national champions is odious, generally they are protected because they are not convicted monopolists.

Giving away Media Player does not constitute a 1.3 billion fine – bundling it illegally into Windows to the detriment of other players – both free and non-free does constitute a fine.

Sam Green failed to notice the quote "Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the Commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision" – I think you will find a publication of other European firms (and for that matter US firms) that have failed to comply extremely short.

By: G, France

G, France — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:15:50 +0000

this obsession of the EU to go after Microsoft has no basis. They just do this because they have to demonstrate that they care about the customers but it is just because it is a big company and in aprticular is MSoft. Why don't they go after other BIG companies that use unfair business practices? I'm wondering how did the Sony-led group of Blu-Ray discs supporters win the battle against HD DVD. No investigation there? As consumers we know these practices are extremely common

By: Curmudgeon, Nashua NH

Curmudgeon, Nashua NH — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:20:45 +0000

It is amusing that the EU continues to tolerate the concept of the protected "national champion" company and enable its member governments to provide competitive protections to "strategic interests" (anyone remember Groupe Bull in France?). Still, it is a part of the competitive landscape multinational companies have to deal with, even if it is artificial and at times forced.

By: Brian St. Louis

Brian St. Louis — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:06:24 +0000

My question is where are the sanctions against OPEC. Cartels are outlawed by the EU but continue to exist without sanctions. Not to mention the fact that there are other operating systems(free none the less) so does giving away Media Player constitue a 1.3 billion dollar fine?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:23:56 +0000

Ever heard of the Suez water company??? oy.

By: Nick, Charlottesville, VA

Nick, Charlottesville, VA — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:04:56 +0000

As a matter of fact,

Norway is not in the European Union.

But maybe Opera is just much better than IE, and Microsoft is just trying to kill it.

Or maybe EU believes that fair competition is for everyone, not just to protect your own companies, as, maybe, in the US?

PS: ever heard of mouse gestures?

By: Boris, Croatia

Boris, Croatia — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:54:11 +0000

Norway is not a member of the EU.

From Jon Fortt: Didn't say it was.

By: sam Green, West Bloomfield MI

sam Green, West Bloomfield MI — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:41:17 +0000

True, Microsoft may bend and violate some rules, but I get the feeling that EU has a scapegoat with softy and the USA. I would like to see a publication of other European firms that have failed to comply and fines imposed on them. If EU is to continually harp on softy it also takes on the US free enterprise system.