EU, Microsoft relationship icy
p2pnet.net News:- European Union competition authorities are threatening to fine Microsoft in amounts equalling 5% a day of its global revenues.
Under the headline Brussels furious with ‘prevaricating’ Microsoft, “In December, Microsoft lost its appeal at the Court of First Instance, the EU’s second-highest court, against the twin interim sanctions imposed by Brussels and set itself a six-week deadline for complying,” continues the Mail & Guardian Online.
Bill and the Boyz were forced to reveal details of hitherto secret protocols, “enabling rival software companies to offer servers that are inter-operable with its Windows operating system,” says the report, “but is now in dispute with the commission over the licence fees or royalties competitors should pay”.
On top of that, “The EU’s competition authorities, headed by Neelie Kroes, the Dutch commissioner, have rejected out of hand Microsoft’s initial suggestion of calling the ‘degraded’ version of its operating system the ‘Windows reduced-media edition’ – viewed as a serious deterrent to consumers. Other proposed names have also been rejected,” says the Mail & Guardian.
The EC is consulting retailers and rival manufacturers about Microsoft’s steps to comply with the twin sanctions, it states, adding:
“If negotiations break down, Brussels could impose new fines of 5% a day of Microsoft’s daily global revenues.”
