European Commission Smacks Software Bully Microsoft
The big bully on the block gets its comeuppance. Microsoft was smacked by the European anti-trust regulator for the European Commission with a hefty fine for non-compliance of rulings.
The NYTimes reports: "The European antitrust regulator levied a record $1.35 billion fine against Microsoft on Wednesday in a ruling designed to send a clear message to the world’s biggest software maker — and to any other company — of the dangers of flouting its competition rulings.
"The size of the penalty, which surprised lawyers and legal experts, was a clear assertion of the power of the European Commission, which has emerged from a lengthy legal battle with Microsoft as arguably the world’s most activist regulator. The battle with the commission has cost Microsoft more than $2.3 billion in fines.
"In announcing the fine, Neelie Kroes, the European competition commissioner, expressed her irritation at Microsoft’s failure to abide by the prescribed remedies in a 2004 commission ruling that the company abused the market dominance of its Windows software. The ruling was upheld by the second-highest European court in September."
“ 'Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of E.U. competition policy that the commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision,' Ms. Kroes said in a statement. 'I hope that today’s decision closes a dark chapter in Microsoft’s record of noncompliance with the commission’s March 2004 decision.' "
In addition, according to the NYTimes, "The commission is examining whether the bundling of Internet Explorer into Microsoft Windows has unfairly excluded competitors from the Web browser market. It will also investigate whether Microsoft withheld essential information from companies that wanted to make products compatible with its ubiquitous software, including the Office word processing and spreadsheet programs."
Microsoft's Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer seem to be the Dubya and Dick of high tech corporations who hold themselves above the law, defying the law and fair competition. Bravo, Ms. Kroes.
The NYTimes reports: "The European antitrust regulator levied a record $1.35 billion fine against Microsoft on Wednesday in a ruling designed to send a clear message to the world’s biggest software maker — and to any other company — of the dangers of flouting its competition rulings.
"The size of the penalty, which surprised lawyers and legal experts, was a clear assertion of the power of the European Commission, which has emerged from a lengthy legal battle with Microsoft as arguably the world’s most activist regulator. The battle with the commission has cost Microsoft more than $2.3 billion in fines.
"In announcing the fine, Neelie Kroes, the European competition commissioner, expressed her irritation at Microsoft’s failure to abide by the prescribed remedies in a 2004 commission ruling that the company abused the market dominance of its Windows software. The ruling was upheld by the second-highest European court in September."
“ 'Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of E.U. competition policy that the commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision,' Ms. Kroes said in a statement. 'I hope that today’s decision closes a dark chapter in Microsoft’s record of noncompliance with the commission’s March 2004 decision.' "
In addition, according to the NYTimes, "The commission is examining whether the bundling of Internet Explorer into Microsoft Windows has unfairly excluded competitors from the Web browser market. It will also investigate whether Microsoft withheld essential information from companies that wanted to make products compatible with its ubiquitous software, including the Office word processing and spreadsheet programs."
Microsoft's Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer seem to be the Dubya and Dick of high tech corporations who hold themselves above the law, defying the law and fair competition. Bravo, Ms. Kroes.
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