Microsoft Charged with Monopoly Violation

[MathiasOfAthens]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.networkworld.com/news/200...ith-abuse.html

Microsoft was formally charged with monopoly abuse by Europe's top antitrust authority, the European Commission, over the way it bundles the Internet Explorer browser with Windows.

The move follows an unsuccessful attempt by U.S. authorities nine years ago to strip Internet Explorer (IE) of its unfair advantage over competing browsers. European authorities were more successful in their prosecution of Microsoft over similar antitrust offenses five years ago, fining the company over €1.6 billion and ordering it to change the way it does business.

The Commission's charges were delivered to Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, last Thursday in the form of a formal statement of objections. The company is studying the charges and will respond within the next two months, as is usual in European antitrust cases, it said.

The new charges are the first of many anticipated against the company in the wake of a failed court appeal by Microsoft last year against the original European antitrust ruling.

The latest statement of objections follows a relatively short investigation, one year long, sparked by a complaint from Opera Software, a Norwegian browser developer.

Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner welcomed the Commission's decision to press charges. "It's clear they are taking this very seriously," he said in a phone interview on Saturday.

However, he still doesn't know if the Commission pursued both aspects of his company's complaint against Microsoft: In addition to complaining about the bundling of IE into Windows, Opera also pointed out that the software giant was undermining open software standards on the Internet.

"Its a problem for companies like ours if Microsoft doesn't support the open standards we all apply, because many Web sites are designed to work with IE, which means our browsers won't always work out of the box," he said.

IE is still the most widely used internet browser, although its market share dipped below 70 percent globally in 2008, according to Web analytics company Net Applications. In December, Opera's share was around 0.71 percent.

Von Tetzchner said he hopes the Commission doesn't apply the same remedy it did in its last ruling, when it ordered Microsoft to offer a second version of Windows alongside the regular version of the software, but without a bundled copy of Windows Media Player .

Many of you reading this right now are prob using internet explorer. The EU is taking this way too far. Microsoft has the right to bundle because Microsoft design and produced these products. Same thing if this Opera company developed its own OS and released it with its own Media player and browser.

Where will these charges stop at. Will Live Messenger be next, what about the games included with the OS like chess and solitaire. Seriously these charges are absolutely ridiculous imagine that if Microsoft loses then European versions of Windows will come without Media Player and without a internet browser. Or worse Windows will come equip with 20 different internet browsers or messengers or media players.

[Justice and Mercy]

Yeah, this is pretty retarded.

Expect more of it.

[shadyrome]

Eu needs more money

[Ishoss]

I believe this is absolutely correct. It's weird how Americans, the defenders of free-trade and fair competition, is against it.

The only problem I can see if Microsoft aren't allowed to release explorer with their OS is how will different browsers be distributed? Will you ask for it at the store, or will a bunch of CD's arrive with your new computer...

[AqD]

I believe this is absolutely correct. It's weird how Americans, the defenders of free-trade and fair competition, is against it.

Because rules are supposed to be fair. All other modern desktop operation systems come with web browsers, so why can't microsoft do the same?

It's not Microsoft's fault to be successful. It's the customers (us all) who cause those monopoly problems. To punish companies for the behaviors of customers is just wrong. People should be responsible for what they do.

The only problem I can see if Microsoft aren't allowed to release explorer with their OS is how will different browsers be distributed? Will you ask for it at the store, or will a bunch of CD's arrive with your new computer...

It makes no sense. Technically you cannot define a software as a "web browser". "Different browsers" is a stupid term. On windows, for instance, there are dozens of browsers based on IE's web rendering engine - and microsoft could just include them and remove "IE" frontend, and it would NOT help other browser companies such as Opera at all because the monopoly problem is not about browser but incompatible rendering engines and web standards, and countless websites based on microsoft's standards, which create a huge barrier for non-IE based browsers to enter the market.

I guess EU wouldn't even bother to care about those technical details. *sigh*

[MathiasOfAthens]

Shady I thought the same thing too when I first read it.
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN SAN CLEMENTE

[MathiasOfAthens]

Google releases their browser online. Im using Google Chrome right now. Theres free trade for you. Microsoft had no reason to release 20 some browser versions along with their OS.
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HANDJOB PORN

[HorseArcher]

Google releases their browser online. Im using Google Chrome right now. Theres free trade for you. Microsoft had no reason to release 20 some browser versions along with their OS.

Most standard users have absolutely no idea about what is a browser, let alone there are different versions and types downloadable. I work with people and some of them complain, that the "internet" doesn't work with their PC, not their browser is messed up..or some returned Mac-s because they said "there is no Internet on it"- meaning, they couldn't find the Internet Explorer's E-icon.

Don't take yourself as an example- most people on forums or gaming sites whatever, kids born in the 80-90s know how to use the computer and could figure out what is a PC or "OS" or "Internet Browser" and how they are separate entities and programs, but I can guarantee you, 70% of the people have no idea about it.

Imagine, if you'd know the hamburger as the McDonalds one. Never had a home-made or in a restaurant, always wrapped the same way and look the same way size and taste the same with the same exact way made and the same ingredients, from the same bakery and same meat. Only 30% of people would actually know, that you can make it on your own grill or get twice the size in a restaurant with a different bun and different ground meat and without tomatoes or with onions it's still a hamburger.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be IE within Windows OS, but how about the choice of also installing a Mozilla or Opera (both less than 8MB-s) with having an introduction of one advantage over another.

But of course, I don't think it'd ever happen. Same reason why windows media player is there and neither winamp or another application, neither google is set as default but windows live search.

Besides, where is the line drawn in what should be a standard feature of an OS and what shouldnt? Many of the complaints aimed at MS sound like fining GM or Toyota for providing tires with your car because someone else might want to make tires.

Bad example. It's not Toyota , neither GM who makes the tires you buy with their cars but a 3rd party.

[Ishoss]

Most standard users have absolutely no idea about what is a browser, let alone there are different versions and types downloadable. I work with people and some of them complain, that the "internet" doesn't work with their PC, not their browser is messed up..or some returned Mac-s because they said "there is no Internet on it"- meaning, they couldn't find the Internet Explorer's E-icon.

Don't take yourself as an example- most people on forums or gaming sites whatever, kids born in the 80-90s know how to use the computer and could figure out what is a PC or "OS" or "Internet Browser" and how they are separate entities and programs, but I can guarantee you, 70% of the people have no idea about it.

Imagine, if you'd know the hamburger as the McDonalds one. Never had a home-made or in a restaurant, always wrapped the same way and look the same way size and taste the same with the same exact way made and the same ingredients, from the same bakery and same meat. Only 30% of people would actually know, that you can make it on your own grill or get twice the size in a restaurant with a different bun and different ground meat and without tomatoes or with onions it's still a hamburger.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be IE within Windows OS, but how about the choice of also installing a Mozilla or Opera (both less than 8MB-s) with having an introduction of one advantage over another.

But of course, I don't think it'd ever happen. Same reason why windows media player is there and neither winamp or another application, neither google is set as default but windows live search.




Bad example. It's not Toyota , neither GM who makes the tires you buy with their cars but a 3rd party.

That's what I wanted to say... +rep

[AqD]

I'm not saying there shouldn't be IE within Windows OS, but how about the choice of also installing a Mozilla or Opera (both less than 8MB-s) with having an introduction of one advantage over another.

Most desktop softwares are supposed to be part of the operation system. People want a PC that works and has everything they need, including browser and office softwares. Most of computer users don't want to make choices on those minor things, like the brand of wheels in a car.

Personally I would be very happy to see windows bundled with office and all daily softwares too, just like the linux distributions I have used.

If some software companies feel bad about how the business world works, they should go shuting themselves down.

[antares24]

Google produced Chrome and is doing pretty well. All about the money. Microsoft should just say you Europe if your going to continue with these frivolous claims then we will stop selling out product in Europe.

and losing one of their biggest markets? they're not crazy.

apart from IE however the real issue is this:

In addition to complaining about the bundling of IE into Windows, Opera also pointed out that the software giant was undermining open software standards on the Internet.

"Its a problem for companies like ours if Microsoft doesn't support the open standards we all apply, because many Web sites are designed to work with IE, which means our browsers won't always work out of the box," he said.

open software standards are very important, i'm happy of the work of the EU antitrust, go EU! At best it'll change the way microsoft works, at worst the EU can take some big money from MS, win-win

[CrimsonGuard]

What? How do they expect people to connect to Internet and get other browsers if there is no browser installed on their new computer?

[MathiasOfAthens]

What? How do they expect people to connect to Internet and get other browsers if there is no browser installed on their new computer?

LOL I didnt think about that. This will either make browser companies sell browsers on cds in stores or force Microsoft to release their OS with multiple browsers on their OS.
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Lovely Wendie99

[BNS]

I believe this is absolutely correct. It's weird how Americans, the defenders of free-trade and fair competition, is against it.

It's not free or fair in anyway if the EU places such a stupid and costly restriction. In the end we the consumers will suffer.

[Kamos]

I often wonder how such supposedly smart people can be such idiots, bad EU bad!

[Surgeon]

How will people download their browser if they don't have IE?

[Ketzerfreund]

I'm among the supposedly few who enjoy seeing Microsoft getting shot at every now and then. But actually at least some browser must be bundled with every OS.

The other thing the CEO of Opera pointed at would've been far more important to be dealt with, however - the way that Microsoft deals with standards everyone else agreed upon. That's what has been making problems for years, not that stupid IE.

Oh well...
Back to laughing: http://geraldholmes.freeyellow.com

-Der Ketzerfreund.

[MathiasOfAthens]

The article also stated that the commissions last ruling ordered Microsoft to sell a version of windows without Windows media player. Microsoft complied with the order and released the version for the same price as a bundled but no one bought the version that came without WMP.

On the bundling side, the Commission is unlikely to make the same mistake it made the first time, and will most likely demand that IE is stripped out of Windows entirely, instead of calling for two versions of the operating system as it did before

The EU Commission will demand that IE is removed from all versions of Windows. I just hope they dont make a new mistake and prevent people from getting any browser. This might lead to browsers being sold in stores for hundreds of dollars.

[Thanatos]

It's a monopoly simply because it bundles IE with the OS? Given the fact that a ton of people switch browsers even with IE already installed, I don't see what's so bad about it.

Monopoly? Please, give me a break.

[Каие]

It's just another example of the EU doing something which doesn't have to be done, just for the sake of exercising power. I use firefox and chrome, and do millions of others. It is easy to get if the person didn't like IE, and in fact IE is losing it's market share.

Fact is the average PC user doesn't care, they just want to go on the internet, Microsoft is convenient and easy to use and understand.