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Europe vs Microsoft

Ionut Alex. Chitu [PersonRank 10]

Wednesday, July 12, 2006
17 years ago2,480 views

"As it has threatened to do, the European Commission is expected to fine Microsoft hundreds of millions of euros on Wednesday for failing to provide information to its competitors.

And if Microsoft continues to withhold the information, even higher fines will be imposed, a person close to the commission’s antitrust division said Tuesday.

The commission is expected to fine Microsoft up to 2 million euros ($2.56 million) a day, covering the period from Dec. 15, 2005, through Wednesday. That fine could total about 400 million euros ($511 million), almost as much as the 497 million euros Microsoft was fined in 2004 for violating European antitrust law."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/technology/12soft.html?ei=5088&en=e5b191f247ce6f2c&ex=1310356800&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1152697872-OjslleemUY5V+suCxdKKwg

Kirby Witmer [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

microsoft will immediately appeal the fine.... :)

Corsin Camichel [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

I wonder, what does the European Union do with the money?
Support to push Linux? Pocketing the politicians?

Ionut Alex. Chitu [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Maybe they'll give the money to Romania and Bulgaria :)

Corsin Camichel [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

hmm wait, thats a 1/4 of what Switzerland should give the EU... I need to contact my delegate in Berne about that.

Ionut Alex. Chitu [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Here's Microsoft statement:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jul06/07-12EUFinesPR.mspx

Key phrase:
"We have great respect for the Commission and this process, but we do not believe any fine, let alone a fine of this magnitude, is appropriate given the lack of clarity in the Commission’s original decision and our good-faith efforts over the past two years."

/pd [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

they will contest this..but they may not get away with it again..!!

/pd [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

MSFT email

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/bradsmith/07-12-06ECFines.mspx

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