The European Commission has fined Microsoft €280.5m for failing to comply with the 2004 antitrust ruling against it.
In an announcement on Wednesday morning, the EC said it would fine Microsoft €1.5m a day, backdated to 16 December, 2005. "The fine is at a substantial level to induce Microsoft to comply. They have to behave," said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes at a press conference. She added that this is the first time the EC has had to fine a company for failure to comply with an antitrust decision. The Commission had previously said it would fine Microsoft up to €2m a day if it judged it had not satisfied the terms of the antitrust ruling. In 2004, the Commission had ruled that Microsoft shut out rivals by withholding information that would help them make server software as compatible as Microsoft's own with its ubiquitous Windows operating system. It demanded that Microsoft provide that information, and has now judged that the company has still not done so. Kroes also said that the fine would be raised to €3m per day from 19 July if Microsoft continued to drag its feet. "They have to provide complete and accurate specifications. If the latest documentation is not complied with, we will have to consider raising the level of the fines," said Kroes. "Microsoft has not even come close to providing adequate provision of their specifications." Microsoft, though, denies failing to comply with the EC's demands. "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," said Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith. "We will ask the European courts to determine whether our compliance efforts have been sufficient and whether the Commission's unprecedented fine is justified. "Despite these fines, Microsoft remains totally committed to full compliance with the Commission's 2004 decision. We will continue to do whatever the Commission asks to comply with its decision as these issues are considered by the courts," Smith added.
Talkback
the green eyed monster
just because they cant write software worth a light they need to try to cripple the leader by other means.
fake patents , anti-trust etc , government stooges are happy to do as requested by their real paymasters.
Good article.
http://comment.zdnet.co.uk/other/0,39020682,39278588,00.htm
I honestly think the EU has gone out of hand. Considering that almost all the EU's server systems run on Windows Server, I don't see why they're complaining about the software. What Microsoft should do to combat this is just pull Windows completely out of all EU states and see how they feel. Sure, it might hurt a bit of sales, but all that will happen is that the EU will beg for Microsoft to return it's product.
...or not...
If MS ever did take such drastic action, then alternatives may finally be given the due consideration they deserve...
Although, we all know MS would never risk such a huge market...
Ever heard about market regulation? Competition? Antitrust? Law? The EU is not complaining about the software. The EU is concerned about competition and the fact that a near-monopoly is, illegally, witholding vital information for its remaining (and future) competitors. And what "obscure" information is that? Why, simply the way to interface with MS systems. Is this asking much????!!!!
As for MS pulling their software from the EU market. Good luck to them if they try that. I'm guessing it would be a quick and assured way for them to go belly up very fast indeed.