Microsoft and the European Commission

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:41:41 GMT

EU=parasits? When considering that the american debt is a world leader, guess who's a parasit? I sometimes wish I'd rather be in the US than in Europe, though and one reason for this is the european comission represents the industry, not customers at all. Thank them: Europe still is a huge market for Microsoft!

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:41:02 GMT

For all other companies and goverment owned commissions, Microsoft has become one of important source of income. "Shame on you people who don't understand the business and competition" I believe Microsoft is playing fair enough to give user the maximum returns of money which is used for buying Windows. Mozilla Firefox is free so as Google Chrome, anyone who dislike IE can simply download the FF or whatever but just for the sake of people who dislike IE, we can not afford a Windows without IE. Because, I believe IE is liked by more number people not because it is coupled with windows but the kind familier experience like working on windows itself. IE has rocked and will be rocking and prove it's potential to the people who has doubt in it. Secondly, today they are talking about integration of IE with windows, can anyone guarantee me that in future they won't talk about following things: 1. Integration of Windows Media player with Windows - According to the EU, user should buy Real Player or other stuff instead of WMP, if I am not wrong!!! 2. Integration of Windows calender with Windows 3. Integration of Windows contacts wit Windows the list goes on.......... Come on all you big companies like Google and Mozilla start playing fair. Make your respective browser(s) more powerful and simpler then IE so that people won't use IE and start using your browser. But mind one thing, IE is the product of Microsoft, the most innovative company in the field of software, and they do have the moral right to promote their product with their own products like Google promotes Google toolbar with Google search engine. Finally, in India we say "Jaago Grahak Jaago" which means "Wake up, Consumers Wake up!"

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:40:19 GMT

Instead of innovating, differntiating their browser offerings and make them compelling to the end users, these European competitors appear to be using EU as a legal weapon to compete. Grow up European companies, fight on your business / technical merits,competencies and skills. Let the market place determine your success or failure not EU. 1: When you enter a competition, say a box fight or war, you agree on a set of rules. 2: A company enters the European market where certain rules of competition apply that were made by Europeans. 3: The rules are now enforced because the competition is uneven and another non-EU company complained. Microsoft uses its operating system monopoly to promote an inferiour browser solution, that is known as tying. The case would be completely baseless if Microsoft wasn't an established monopolist. 4. Go on and tell it to European regulators. That makes them confident that your case is lost.

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:39:37 GMT

Who is the EU ( Extortion Uniion) really representing? European Companies or Customer? As a customer , the Web/Internet is an integral part of a wholesome PC experience. The web browser should be an integral part of the OS and should not cost me a dime more. If there is a browser that is head and shoulders above IE and I really need that functionality, I will buy. Think of why I-Pod and I-Phone have great sucess despite a multitude of competitive offerings. Instead of innovating, differntiating their browser offerings and make them compelling to the end users, these European competitors appear to be using EU as a legal weapon to compete. Grow up European companies, fight on your business / technical merits,competencies and skills. Let the market place determine your success or failure not EU.

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:39:03 GMT

Boycott Novell has an interesting story about interference with Firefox by a Windows Update. The reports are that the update installs a Firefox browser plugin without warning which is difficult to remove. Obviously Firefox is not a component of Windows, so updating it is not related to a Windows update and so, the update modifies unrelated components. boycottnovell.com/.../malware-techniques-dot-net <a href="boycottnovell.com/.../a>. Are you trying to demonstrate the futility of browser unbundling so that the EU can jump directly to fines or import controls? .

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:38:33 GMT

'I disagree with European Commission on the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows. [..] European Commission should not interfere with Microsoft bundled software.' I expect the Commission to execute the applicable laws and act when a company complains on grounds of law. Your comment is as baseless as to say: 'I don't think a judge should go after Robin for stealing from the rich and powerful'. What makes you a criminal is described in the code penal. We are not in a revolution. When you break the law you get punished and the enforcement authority just applies the law. Except in the world of Mr. Berlusconi or under an utterly corrupt government NO ONE has the right to first break rules and then change the rules. In particular Microsoft has no right whatsoever to criticise European antitrust laws as we enable the company to sell its products on our markets without any real limitations. The complaint from Opera looks well-founded under European law as tying is factually illegal for market players which are convicted monopolists. If Microsoft lawyers are unable to explain European market rules to the company, and competitors complain, the authorities have to intervene and enforce the law. No one asked Microsoft to get on our markets, it was a deliberate decision of the company and there are rules and principles which preempt its own abuse. Compliance and apology is the only acceptable behaviour.

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:37:49 GMT

Microsoft fooled the Commission with its Media Player ruling compliance. No one ordered Microsoft to provide a special version without Media player for the same price. So you can play these tricks one time but they won't get you a second chance. They want real compliance. I hope your lawyers understand very well the case and explain you the likelihood to overcome the objections. To follow the emotional and spirit of some commentators who question competition law is a rather bad advise but you are free to dig your hole deeper. Politicise it and Microsoft will fail big. Microsoft cannot really afford to play the national card, or it might find itself in a situation where European policy makers decide to develop their own European Operating System as the Russians are planning according to some unreliable news sources. Antitrust enforcement is not political and does not follow a national paradigm. Get into polemics, excalate and you will see where it ends. You will not be able to influence the case with political interventions. Microsoft's past antitrust and interoperability lobbying has burned its reputation in Brussels. It is time to become reasonable and conservative (in the European sense, that is abstention from aggressive communication, not in the Republican sense). Comply or die.

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:37:19 GMT

Microsoft should just make a windows Vista called EU Vista, that has nothing on it so they will be happy. There are going to continue stating that every OS components should be sold (or givien away free) seperatly. Pain brush, calculator, search, folders, notepad, email, video player, audio player, sound, a start menu, desktop icons, messenger, browsers, virus proctection, firewall protection, dual-boots, backups, picture viewers, you name it. Whatever any other EU company can do, it should then be taken out of the windows OS. How can windows be motivated to innovate when half of the new components or ideas are going to be fined by the EU? I would to see if the EU tell any EU company, with a large market share to strip down their product. Tell Nokia to sell their cellphones with any browser or any OS. Tell airbus to use brazilian seats or engines.

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:36:44 GMT

I disagree with European Commission on the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows. I appreciate a windows operating system as it is shipped today. Most common functions work immediately without spending hours of searching and downloading appropriate software to get up and running. I'm very satisfied with my XP and Vista computers and my HTC phone with windows mobile incl. the bundled software such as photo viewer, internet explorer and windows media player. All products work fine and saves a lot of time. Let the consumer decide of the bundled software needs te be replaced by other software that is more specific or designed for professional users. European Commission should not interfere with Microsoft bundled software.

re: Microsoft and the European Commission

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:36:11 GMT

So what the EU is saying is she should buy Windows without a browser and then get in our car or walk to the nearest store and pickup a CD with IE or a competing browser on it? If the OS has no browser how are we supposed to use a different one since we can't download it because we have no browser? Back in the day an internet browser was something nice to have when the internet was new, but now its as basic as a file system. Whats next Windows should be shipped with no built in file system?