Absolute Nonsense: Microsoft fined $731 M for failing to promote its competition

pewep

pewep

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Nov 30, 2009
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Now, I personally don't particularly care for Microsoft but the amount of greed these idiots in government have is nearly unfathomable:

BBC News - Microsoft fined by European Commission over web browser

With insanely high taxes and an endless number of regulatory guidlines to follow, I don't believe that Europe is conducive to a good business environment at all. Obviously some rules are necessary, but it shouldn't feel like you have to watch every single little step you make or face unfair consequences like that. Any euro queens wanna pipe in?

The article says Microsoft entered that agreement to avoid a fine. But there's no reason they should be threatened with a fine for daring to bundle their company's browser with their company's OS.
It'd be like fining Apple for only selling iPhones with iOS.
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While I certainly agree as a general concept, this wasn't a "watch every single step you make" kind of thing. It was a court ruling specifically against Microsoft that damn near everyone at that company should have been aware of.
It wasn't hidden in form 3D-17delta, it was all over the news when it happened.
 
lol so many other corporations get the smallest fines for way more blatant shit that actually hurts people.

How long until MS gets into politics and buys some legislation?
 
xmcp123 said:
While I certainly agree as a general concept, this wasn't a "watch every single step you make" kind of thing. It was a court ruling specifically against Microsoft that damn near everyone at that company should have been aware of.
It wasn't hidden in form 3D-17delta, it was all over the news when it happened.
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I agree with the fact that someone (or a whole group of people) really screwed up by not following the 2004 EU Agreement, however it's still disgusting and completely unfair how the whole case was handled. A lot of people lost their jobs, that's for sure. But here's what I'm wondering:

1. Why isn't Apple forced to do the same? At the time, Microsoft had a 90-95% share in desktop computers, however the 70+% share in mobile phones that Apple currently holds must be considered a monopoly.

2. Why specifically browsers? I get that having a monopoly generally is disadvantageous for the consumer, but unlike tangible goods and services (which is what the term was really is meant to apply to) it's not like I have to actually BUY any product apart from the OS. Browsers are simply advertisement platforms for companies. It really makes no sense.

The very idea of having to promote a competitor on a product you created and distribute is very aggravating.
 
Fatbat said:
So do they take that money and distribute it evenly among MS's competitors? Or is it just a gov't cash grab.

Monopoly laws are fucking ridiculous. You can excel as long as you don't become the best.
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The EU needs it. All that red tape is expensive, because it's made in France by workers doing 2 hours a day for a full salary.
 
r3p1v said:
Where did they even come up with the number for the fine?
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Simple. You take the amount Microsoft makes within the EU over the next few years and subtract $1.

:anon.sml:

If I were Ballmer I'd tell Europe that I hope they enjoy only having access to apple products...
 
why can't MS just spring off IE segment into a separate corporate entity like IE LLC, IE LTD etc, then sign a contract with it for its product - IE to be included in Win OS in this fashion?
 
pewep said:
I agree with the fact that someone (or a whole group of people) really screwed up by not following the 2004 EU Agreement, however it's still disgusting and completely unfair how the whole case was handled. A lot of people lost their jobs, that's for sure. But here's what I'm wondering:

1. Why isn't Apple forced to do the same? At the time, Microsoft had a 90-95% share in desktop computers, however the 70+% share in mobile phones that Apple currently holds must be considered a monopoly.

2. Why specifically browsers? I get that having a monopoly generally is disadvantageous for the consumer, but unlike tangible goods and services (which is what the term was really is meant to apply to) it's not like I have to actually BUY any product apart from the OS. Browsers are simply advertisement platforms for companies. It really makes no sense.

The very idea of having to promote a competitor on a product you created and distribute is very aggravating.
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Yeah, I don't agree with the practice itself. It's ridiculous. But that doesn't change the fact that Microsoft should certainly have been aware of the ruling. It was a big deal.
 
lincolndsp said:
why can't MS just spring off IE segment into a separate corporate entity like IE LLC, IE LTD etc, then sign a contract with it for its product - IE to be included in Win OS in this fashion?
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Interesting question, and I was wondering about that myself. Of course they couldn't have ANY financial ties to Microsoft and its affiliates from that point on otherwise they'd be considered to be part of the monopoly so... what would be the point? Plus if they re-branded they suffer a pretty big consumer loss due to Firefox and Chrome already being well established in the industry.
 
know how eurocrats might hit another jackpot and grab cash - make google pimp not just Chrome but its competitors on google's properties with a different inbuilt default search engine. as google is a monopoly in the search market.
 
Some politician probably had a kid with RROD and is getting his revenge for a piss poor product.
 
What a fucking joke.

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So what makes them decide on only providing the consumer with these specific choices? Some arbitrary decision to provide the top 5 most used browsers?

1. Create new browser
2. Argue collusion between above 5 browsers unfairly keeping my browser out of the market.
3. ??????
4. PROFIT
 
they were warned about it a few years ago...then did it again.
monopoly is a game played in real life.
 
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