EU fines Microsoft $1.35B for non-compliance

[drhowarddrfine]

Microsoft fined $1.35 Billion. (http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/02/27/microsoft-eu-fines-markets-equity-cx_po_0227markets08.html)"I hope that today's decision closes a dark chapter in Microsoft's record of non-compliance

[TJ111]

First of all, don't take me as being another guy on the anti-MS bandwagon. I own a 360, contently use XP at work, and got my mom a Zune for Christmas (but do use Linux at home).

For a long time Microsoft has always basically ignored these types of rulings, hoping that people will forget or something (and with success in the US). I'm glad someone is holding them accountable for once. Maybe this will make them think twice about, you know, actually doing what the law/courts say from now on. Microsoft has been making a series of blunders recently, you'd think they'd be working much harder on changing their strategy and executive planning.

[TJ111]

Update: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080226-heavy-fine-looms-in-ongoing-microsofteu-tussle.html

$2.2 billion now.

Edit: I'm confused, they both say 899 mil euros, but it says $1.35 bil in one place and $2.2 bil in another?

[The Old Sarge]

The US $ fluctuating that badly? lol

[drhowarddrfine]

You're looking at the update. The fine could have been as high as $2.2B but it wasn't.

[drhowarddrfine]

Statement from the EU:"Microsoft continued to stifle innovation by charging other companies prohibitive royalty rates for the essential information they needed to offer software products to computer users around the world," Kroes said. "The high rates made the rendering of (interoperability) information pointless."

To comply with the March 2004 order, Microsoft was supposed to offer rivals complete and accurate interoperability information so that their products would work with Microsoft's dominant operating system, as well as offer the information at a reasonable price.

Any company looking to avoid a clash with Kroes needs to keep one thing in mind. Says the woman herself: "Our approach is to ensure companies and people have a right to choose...then the markets will deliver so much more."