EU fines Microsoft 561 million euro for attempted web browser monopoly

They'll appeal, and win. It's hard to accuse someone for monopolizing when they have not got the majority share of browsers.questiontime23

They got fined because they admitted it was wrong and promised to change it(then didn't). 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/06/microsoft-fined-browser-error

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

Kind of silly. I'm not sure, under what law, they are required to give an option, considering it is their OS. 

lundy86_4

I think that's the best fit.

Pretty much, plus every other browser is actually bandied about, quite a lot. At the ed of the day, it is a Microsoft OS, and it's an odd ruling... I could be wrong, given a lack of understanding of prior rulings, and/or laws.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="clyde46"] Competition I think. Which is odd as every other browser is free.clyde46

I think that's the best fit.

Pretty much, plus every other browser is actually bandied about, quite a lot. At the ed of the day, it is a Microsoft OS, and it's an odd ruling... I could be wrong, given a lack of understanding of prior rulings, and/or laws.

Pretty strong opinion :P Considering, i'm a Poli Sci major, I don't have all that much against the EU... Hmmmm.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="clyde46"] Competition I think. Which is odd as every other browser is free.clyde46

I think that's the best fit.

Pretty much, plus every other browser is actually bandied about, quite a lot. At the ed of the day, it is a Microsoft OS, and it's an odd ruling... I could be wrong, given a lack of understanding of prior rulings, and/or laws.

[QUOTE="Giancar"]And this matters to SW because.... ?????aroxx_ab

Same reason people take up Sony when they loose money in their TV section etc

So strange, when i isntall Mac OS X it never gives me the choice to install a different browser... are the EU prejudice towards Microsoft or something?

[QUOTE="aroxx_ab"]

[QUOTE="Giancar"]And this matters to SW because.... ?????millerlight89

Same reason people take up Sony when they loose money in their TV section etc

So strange, when i isntall Mac OS X it never gives me the choice to install a different browser... are the EU prejudice towards Microsoft or something?

Phazevariance

Well back in the 90's Microsoft actually bankrupted a few browser companies by simply packaging in IE with every Windows.

I figure, if the case still holds up today, that it may have something to do with Microsoft's marketshare. 

Apple has like, 2-3% of the desktop market don't think? It may perhaps be a situation where even if every Mac owner uses Safari it poses no threat to any other company whereas that's not the case with Microsoft.

It's just a precautionary measure given Microsoft's near-monopoly.

Microsoft makes that in like a week lol, they'll be alright.  

[spoiler]

Since someone will quote for "proof", ill do the math.  

$6 billion profit every quarter (3 months)

$2 billion profit every month

$500 million profit every week 

[/spoiler]

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

I think that's the best fit.

Pretty much, plus every other browser is actually bandied about, quite a lot. At the ed of the day, it is a Microsoft OS, and it's an odd ruling... I could be wrong, given a lack of understanding of prior rulings, and/or laws.

Elite-Realist

Just a convoluted wsay for the EU to get MS to finance Greece's bailout

[QUOTE="Sir_Graham"]

[QUOTE="Jack-Burton"] Company warzJack-Burton

Not wise for cows to go there. MS credit rating AAA. Sony credit rating BB- :|

And this matters to SW because.... ?????Giancar

s[QUOTE="Giancar"]And this matters to SW because.... ?????Midnightshade29

Ouch. But I fail to see WHY they need to tell people there are other browsers on THEIR OS. Sounds as dull as saying "ATTEMPT ON MONOPOLY OF SOLITAIRE" because it doesn't show other versions.MBirdy88

Exactly, typical EU jibber-jabber I tell you.

A company that doesn't care about a 561 million fine is a company that has grown too big. Maybe the fine should have been higher to  actually make a difference?

[QUOTE="MBirdy88"]Ouch. But I fail to see WHY they need to tell people there are other browsers on THEIR OS. Sounds as dull as saying "ATTEMPT ON MONOPOLY OF SOLITAIRE" because it doesn't show other versions.Epak_

Exactly, typical EU jibber-jabber I tell you.

Microsoft makes that in like a week lol, they'll be alright.  

[spoiler]

Since someone will quote for "proof", ill do the math.  

$6 billion profit every quarter (3 months)

$2 billion profit every month

$500 million profit every week 

[/spoiler]

StrongDeadlift

A company that doesn't care about a 561 million fine is a company that has grown too big. Maybe the fine should have been higher to  actually make a difference?

KungfuKitten

Good to see the Union is watching over these things, but I fail to see how this is relevant.

There many rich companies that went bankrupt because of their stupidity..stayhigh1

Meh, Bill Gates spends more than that on a Friday night out.

HaRmLeSS_RaGe

[QUOTE="stayhigh1"] There many rich companies that went bankrupt because of their stupidity..StrongDeadlift

Sony is bankrupt ?

Themoreyouknow.

[QUOTE="KungfuKitten"]

A company that doesn't care about a 561 million fine is a company that has grown too big. Maybe the fine should have been higher to  actually make a difference?

stayhigh1

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="clyde46"] Competition I think. Which is odd as every other browser is free.clyde46

I think that's the best fit.

Pretty much, plus every other browser is actually bandied about, quite a lot. At the ed of the day, it is a Microsoft OS, and it's an odd ruling... I could be wrong, given a lack of understanding of prior rulings, and/or laws.

Next up, TGI Friday's is being sued because they dont show their customers the chilli's menu.

[QUOTE="StrongDeadlift"]

[QUOTE="stayhigh1"] There many rich companies that went bankrupt because of their stupidity..Sagem28

Sony is bankrupt ?

Themoreyouknow.

Dem junk bonds :(

[QUOTE="Epak_"]

[QUOTE="MBirdy88"]Ouch. But I fail to see WHY they need to tell people there are other browsers on THEIR OS. Sounds as dull as saying "ATTEMPT ON MONOPOLY OF SOLITAIRE" because it doesn't show other versions.KungfuKitten

Exactly, typical EU jibber-jabber I tell you.

I hear you. Does OSx promote other browsers, or any other operating system for that matter? I know maybe one person who is still using IE.

Well, somebody needs to keep an eye on those Multi billion dollar companies.

Good to see EU taking care of the REAL issues... ....001011000101101

its the EU what do you expect, when something goes down they expect the big 3 to always bail out and frankly as a Brit with our own pressing issues im fed up having to bail out other countries for crap they put themselves in.

Or the horsemeat scandal.

Or the attempted ban on modifying cars...

The shortcomings of the immigration system which in turn has slowly crippled our low end job market and British people are struggling to find even minimum wage work, for example the standard of some immigrants english at my work is absolutely horrendous and as a supervisor i've had to take a basic Polish course despite the fact we are in the UK just to accomodate...which in my eyes is a major cause of concern despite how it sounds.

The EU's just a useless busybody that costs us money, and before im accused of being a tory or what not i actually favour the SNP on most issues apart from their stance on the EU.

Well, somebody needs to keep an eye on those Multi billion dollar companies.

Sagem28

yeah by an organisation ran by idiots and rife with monumental incompetance.

[QUOTE="Sagem28"]

Well, somebody needs to keep an eye on those Multi billion dollar companies.

razgriz_101

yeah by an organisation ran by idiots and rife with monumental incompetance.

I'll just write your comment off as ignorance. Or arrogance.

Haven't decided yet.

[QUOTE="razgriz_101"]

[QUOTE="Sagem28"]

Well, somebody needs to keep an eye on those Multi billion dollar companies.

Sagem28

yeah by an organisation ran by idiots and rife with monumental incompetance.

I'll just write your comment off as ignorance. Or arrogance.

Haven't decided yet.

psh, thats nothing to MS, thats what, kinecting fund?

[QUOTE="Sagem28"]

[QUOTE="razgriz_101"]

yeah by an organisation ran by idiots and rife with monumental incompetance.

razgriz_101

I'll just write your comment off as ignorance. Or arrogance.

Haven't decided yet.

Yup, ignorance.

[QUOTE="razgriz_101"][QUOTE="Sagem28"]

I'll just write your comment off as ignorance. Or arrogance.

Haven't decided yet.

Sagem28

Yup, ignorance.

not really my point lies within why should i have to bail out other countries for their shortcomings when i have more pressing issues at home.

Horsemeat scandal shows the sheer incompetence of the EU in terms of food safety and testing which in all honesty should be common place in this day and age, its a huge problem that lies within the free market and standardisation should have been implemeneted long ago before any of this happened NOW only are they talking about it.

But nah the EU feels its time is much better spent chasing corporations for what in the real world feels like a minor thing, wheres the record fines for companies like Findus? for miselling the product and the fact that bute an anti-inflammatory drug which is not licensed for food consumption or even allwoed to be used by humans anymore gets into a supply chain and theres no fines yet theres record fines for an internet browser.

you may think its ignorance but the EU is generally a waste of space in my opinion they have done very little good in my life time, the eurozone's been a monumental clusterfeck sice 2008, they arent doing much action wise on the horsemeat scandal and sitting on their hands a lot on major issues.

I just personalyl think the EU's not really needed it should have stuck as the EEC and nothing more, its an organisation that to be brutally honet has went past its station in terms of what it can and cant do, it all started off as an economic organisation based on trading in the50's and has becoming something more and wants to become a european wide country that falls under one banner and not something i wish as a Brit.

PS you never provide a counter arguement, and if i i recall correctly your Belgian and well...we all know that track record you'll follow the beat of anyone's drum if need be.

The European Commission said on March 6 that it imposed a 561 million euro fine on Microsoft for failing to offer Windows users the browser choice screen that allows users to pick a web browser, rather than use Microsofts Internet Explorer browser by default.

Microsoft was required to do so for a period of five years by the terms of its antitrust settlement with the Commission in 2009. However, the company failed to include the browser choice screen when it rolled out Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

As a consequence, an estimated 15.3 million Windows users in Europe were not shown the screen over a period of 14 months between May 2011 and July 2012 the EC said.

In 2009, we closed our investigation about a suspected abuse of dominant position by Microsoft due to the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows by accepting commitments offered by the company [...] A failure to comply is a very serious infringement that must be sanctioned accordingly, EC vice president in charge of competition policy, Joaquin Almunia, said in a statement.

Following an in-depth investigation and taking into account Microsoft´s reply to our objections, todays decision finds that Microsoft has indeed breached its legally binding commitments, he said.

Nevertheless, the US software manufacturer got off relatively easy, considering that the EU could have levied a fine of up to 10 per cent of the companys global turnover in the preceding business year, in which case the fine would have been close to $7.9 billion.

http://sofiaglobe.com/2013/03/06/eu-fines-microsoft-561m-euro-for-browser-screen-fail/

Kjranu

That horsemeat scandal is a bad example.

Maybe it's a scandal in the UK, but over here people don't really give a crap. It's mentioned on the news once or twice, and after that it's just forgotten.
Yes, they should tell us what is in our meatballs, but it's not like it's the end of the world.

Horsemeat is edible, and freaking tasty.
A company abusing his monopoly position is a far worse offence.

[QUOTE="KungfuKitten"]

[QUOTE="Epak_"]

Exactly, typical EU jibber-jabber I tell you.

Epak_

I hear you. Does OSx promote other browsers, or any other operating system for that matter? I know maybe one person who is still using IE.

But nah the EU feels its time is much better spent chasing corporations for what in the real world feels like a minor thing, wheres the record fines for companies like Findus? for miselling the product and the fact that bute an anti-inflammatory drug which is not licensed for food consumption or even allwoed to be used by humans anymore gets into a supply chain and theres no fines yet theres record fines for an internet browser.

razgriz_101

Investigation of this horse meat scandal will take long time. It isn't really fair to expect them to be handing fines after a month or two without even knowing who to fine. The fear of getting phenylbutazone into food chain is minimal at best. It is rarely used in Europe. Secondly you'd have to eat hundreds of horse meat burgers in a day to even get the daily human therapeutic dose, if the said horses were treated with phenylbutazone. And it is still rarely used in human medicine.