Couldn't happen to a better company

[radagast]

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News...x?NewsId=22619

[Zvi]

I do believe big part of that decision is the fact that MS is an american company. Not that I like MS that much, but I don't think they were doing the worst out there.

[cnowels]

I had the same thought. I'm not an MS fan in the least but I think this decision is more to do with -ing America than anything to do with MS.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by cnowels

I had the same thought. I'm not an MS fan in the least but I think this decision is more to do with -ing America than anything to do with MS.

I agree. MS deserves its share of licks but the EU clearly has some kind of hard-on against them that I think has deeper layers going for it. I think you hit on some of it.

[MozartMan]

EU Fines Microsoft $1.35 Billion

The European Commission fined Microsoft a record €899 million ($1.35 billion) on Wednesday for defying sanctions imposed on the software giant for antitrust violations, far exceeding the original penalty.

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News...x?NewsId=22619

[radagast]

Originally Posted by MozartMan

EU Fines Microsoft $1.35 Billion


http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News...x?NewsId=22619

Already existing thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=39798

[Porfie]

While 2008 looks to be a great year for SONY and blu-ray, 2008 seems to be off to a bad start for Microsoft. LOL sorry I couldnt resist!

Microsoft Gets Record Fine and a Rebuke From Europe
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/te...l?ref=business

By STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: February 28, 2008
BRUSSELS — The European antitrust regulator imposed a record $1.35 billion fine against Microsoft on Wednesday in a ruling intended to send a clear message to the world’s largest software maker — and to any other company — of the dangers of flouting Europe’s competition rulings.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by Porfie

While 2008 looks to be a great year for SONY and blu-ray, 2008 seems to be off to a bad start fro Microsoft.

Microsoft Gets Record Fine and a Rebuke From Europe
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/te...l?ref=business

By STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: February 28, 2008
BRUSSELS — The European antitrust regulator imposed a record $1.35 billion fine against Microsoft on Wednesday in a ruling intended to send a clear message to the world’s largest software maker — and to any other company — of the dangers of flouting Europe’s competition rulings.

LOL!!!

[Blu As Hell]

Originally Posted by Porfie

While 2008 looks to be a great year for SONY and blu-ray, 2008 seems to be off to a bad start for Microsoft. LOL sorry I couldnt resist!

Microsoft Gets Record Fine and a Rebuke From Europe
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/te...l?ref=business

By STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: February 28, 2008
BRUSSELS — The European antitrust regulator imposed a record $1.35 billion fine against Microsoft on Wednesday in a ruling intended to send a clear message to the world’s largest software maker — and to any other company — of the dangers of flouting Europe’s competition rulings.

That's gonna leave a mark for sure.

And now...I will imitate the board of directors from Microsoft...

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Porfie

While 2008 looks to be a great year for SONY and blu-ray, 2008 seems to be off to a bad start for Microsoft. LOL sorry I couldnt resist!

Microsoft Gets Record Fine and a Rebuke From Europe
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/te...l?ref=business

By STEPHEN CASTLE
Published: February 28, 2008
BRUSSELS — The European antitrust regulator imposed a record $1.35 billion fine against Microsoft on Wednesday in a ruling intended to send a clear message to the world’s largest software maker — and to any other company — of the dangers of flouting Europe’s competition rulings.

tell me the one time MS didn't get fined by europe or the EU.

[Big Daddy]

The U.S. Justice Department did not have the courage to do much and only told Microsoft to be a good boy in the future.

The Empire

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

The U.S. Justice Department did not have the courage to do much and only told Microsoft to be a good boy in the future.

The Empire

the bat thing is creepy. and so is your avatar.

[Kayne314]

I suppose Microsoft will just increase the price of their OS again, and crush a few small competitors to make the $1.35 Billion back.

Probably not a major concern to them, and thats a little intimidating.

[stockstar1138]

this is hardly anything and was expected, the stock hardly flinched over the news.

somebody needs to really bust their balls sometime. Just lay down the law and say, ok, were sick of your monopolistic, anti-competitive tactics, 15 billion dollar fine.

I know it will never happen, but I'd love to see it happen

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

this is hardly anything and was expected, the stock hardly flinched over the news.

somebody needs to really bust their balls sometime. Just lay down the law and say, ok, were sick of your monopolistic, anti-competitive tactics, 15 billion dollar fine.

I know it will never happen, but I'd love to see it happen

Although many of us would love to see it happen, but all we have is hope.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by shadblz

the bat thing is creepy. and so is your avatar.

I am a creepy person.

[fronn]

I feel like this is one of those fines that Microsoft is just going to sit on for years before even thinking of paying it (if it doesn't get out of most of it through appealing). I'm not quite sure how the court system is in the EU, but in America... large companies like Microsoft wouldn't think of paying any fine in a timely manner -- that's not the American way!

Microsoft makes so much money in profit that even a fine like that isn't that hard to swallow (it, amazingly, wouldn't even put them into the red for a quarter). It's truly scary how much profit they make.

[iNCREDiPiNOY]

Ha-Haa!

[Sporty]

That's what's funny in a way.

If MS would have abided by the '04 ruling and paid the $400m it wouldn't have had to worry about this.

In the US most companies have more influence then in the EU so it's just cheaper to blow off ruling and pay the fines then change the business structure to comply. That strategy seems to be backfiring on Microsoft in this case.

$2.3 billion so far. kinda funny. Here in the US you have congressmen fighting for Microsoft's rights not it's competitors or consumers.

[Sith]

old news, microsoft could care less...