9
98 Guy
Here is what Micro$oft has been up to lately regarding their desire to
abide by the rule of law and the respect of the courts.
Now explain to me again why we should abide by Macroshaft's EULA's.
What a joke - no, what a fraud of a company.
Their best years are clearly behind them.
--------------------------------------
http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/02/microsoft-slapp.html
Microsoft Slapped by EU With $1.35B Fine
By Betsy Schiffman February 27, 2008
The European Commission stands to make a tidy profit off Microsoft's
objectionable business practices. The commission fined Microsoft a
record €899 million, or $1.35 billion, for failing to comply with its
previous 2004 antitrust ruling (in which the company was fined the
equivalent of $613 million).
The commission found that Microsoft unreasonably charged third-parties
for access to documentation that would allow them to develop
compatible software for Windows-based computers.
Essentially, Microsoft now has to pay more than double what it would
have four years ago for its unwillingness to comply with the
commission's previous order. Still, for Microsoft it's just the cost
of doing business.
"The company previously said [the fine] could be as high as $1.5
billion, so from that standpoint, it's better than what it could have
been," says Sid Parakh, an analyst with McAdams Wright Ragen. "The
more important thing going forward are the two remaining cases."
An equally important question is how this ruling bodes for the
Microsoft-Yahoo deal. If it's taken Google nearly a year to clear its
acquisition of DoubleClick with European regulators -- and it hasn't
closed yet -- will Microsoft have better luck clearing the Yahoo deal?
"The acquisition of Yahoo would certainly be closely looked at --
especially at how it will affect the consumer," Parakh says. "But it's
hard to say how the commission will respond. At this point, it's fair
to say that Google is the big market share leader in search. But you
never know what aspect of the deal will be scrutinized by the
commission."
Other costs for behaving badly:
Microsoft agrees to pay Sun Microsystems $700 million to settle an
antitrust case, and an additional $900 million to resolve patent
issues. (April 2004)
Microsoft ordered to pay Eolas $521 million in a patent infringement
case related to Internet Explorer. (March 2005)
Microsoft agrees to pay IBM $775 million to settle an antitrust case.
(July 2005)
Microsoft agrees to pay RealNetworks $761 million to settle an
antitrust case. (October 2005)
Microsoft agrees to pay $179 million to Iowa consumers and businesses
in a class-action antitrust case. (February 2007)
abide by the rule of law and the respect of the courts.
Now explain to me again why we should abide by Macroshaft's EULA's.
What a joke - no, what a fraud of a company.
Their best years are clearly behind them.
--------------------------------------
http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/02/microsoft-slapp.html
Microsoft Slapped by EU With $1.35B Fine
By Betsy Schiffman February 27, 2008
The European Commission stands to make a tidy profit off Microsoft's
objectionable business practices. The commission fined Microsoft a
record €899 million, or $1.35 billion, for failing to comply with its
previous 2004 antitrust ruling (in which the company was fined the
equivalent of $613 million).
The commission found that Microsoft unreasonably charged third-parties
for access to documentation that would allow them to develop
compatible software for Windows-based computers.
Essentially, Microsoft now has to pay more than double what it would
have four years ago for its unwillingness to comply with the
commission's previous order. Still, for Microsoft it's just the cost
of doing business.
"The company previously said [the fine] could be as high as $1.5
billion, so from that standpoint, it's better than what it could have
been," says Sid Parakh, an analyst with McAdams Wright Ragen. "The
more important thing going forward are the two remaining cases."
An equally important question is how this ruling bodes for the
Microsoft-Yahoo deal. If it's taken Google nearly a year to clear its
acquisition of DoubleClick with European regulators -- and it hasn't
closed yet -- will Microsoft have better luck clearing the Yahoo deal?
"The acquisition of Yahoo would certainly be closely looked at --
especially at how it will affect the consumer," Parakh says. "But it's
hard to say how the commission will respond. At this point, it's fair
to say that Google is the big market share leader in search. But you
never know what aspect of the deal will be scrutinized by the
commission."
Other costs for behaving badly:
Microsoft agrees to pay Sun Microsystems $700 million to settle an
antitrust case, and an additional $900 million to resolve patent
issues. (April 2004)
Microsoft ordered to pay Eolas $521 million in a patent infringement
case related to Internet Explorer. (March 2005)
Microsoft agrees to pay IBM $775 million to settle an antitrust case.
(July 2005)
Microsoft agrees to pay RealNetworks $761 million to settle an
antitrust case. (October 2005)
Microsoft agrees to pay $179 million to Iowa consumers and businesses
in a class-action antitrust case. (February 2007)
