EU Fine for Microsoft
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I just followed a link from Jordan re: Microsofts intention to appeal against the EU fine. The Microsoft explanation is that they did not know what information to supply when told to expose their protocols. Normally I would laugh if I heard a company say they did not know what to supply to their competitors to enable them to interface with their product. In MIcrosofts case I am inclined to believe them, that just about seems to be their level of competence. :~
If you're being fined millions of euros, then asking the question "What is it that you want us to expose?", seems prudent. :)
-- Mr. Bender's Wardrobe by ROBOTANY 500
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I just followed a link from Jordan re: Microsofts intention to appeal against the EU fine. The Microsoft explanation is that they did not know what information to supply when told to expose their protocols. Normally I would laugh if I heard a company say they did not know what to supply to their competitors to enable them to interface with their product. In MIcrosofts case I am inclined to believe them, that just about seems to be their level of competence. :~
That's a crock of solidified methane. Microsoft was told they would be fined if they didn't comply, and they knew how much they could be fined. Saying that MS didn't know what was expected of them is about as believable as Clinton not knowing what sexual relations are. Stop being an apologist for Microsoft and open your eyes.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 -
That's a crock of solidified methane. Microsoft was told they would be fined if they didn't comply, and they knew how much they could be fined. Saying that MS didn't know what was expected of them is about as believable as Clinton not knowing what sexual relations are. Stop being an apologist for Microsoft and open your eyes.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
about as believable as Clinton not knowing what sexual relations are
But be fair, he was from Arkansas! :) Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^]
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I just followed a link from Jordan re: Microsofts intention to appeal against the EU fine. The Microsoft explanation is that they did not know what information to supply when told to expose their protocols. Normally I would laugh if I heard a company say they did not know what to supply to their competitors to enable them to interface with their product. In MIcrosofts case I am inclined to believe them, that just about seems to be their level of competence. :~
Wasn't all the fuss about exposing the api required to make something similar to windows media player? Sounds really trivial to do... they built the wmp, so what the hell is the problem? Also they say they got 300 people working on making the information available full time! Some serious money is being burnt here, that would have been better spent on some charity. Well, those engineers are well-paid, so I guess to them it is some form of charity :laugh:. Wout
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I just followed a link from Jordan re: Microsofts intention to appeal against the EU fine. The Microsoft explanation is that they did not know what information to supply when told to expose their protocols. Normally I would laugh if I heard a company say they did not know what to supply to their competitors to enable them to interface with their product. In MIcrosofts case I am inclined to believe them, that just about seems to be their level of competence. :~
Actually, in this case, Microsoft has a point. The EU has refused to give Microsoft the specific complaints (I believe 13 of them) that outline the type of information the complaintants weren't receiving. Several of the companies that filed complaints have openly stated they are satisfied with the information they have received from Microsoft. In other words, the EU has told Microsoft to reveal information. Microsoft says, "What information." The EU says, "We aren't going to tell you, but when you reveal enough we'll stop fining you." The whole thing is a classic shakedown by the EU. If a private citizen did this, they would be charged with a felony. [EDIT: Moreover, hundreds, if not thousands, of companies around the world have managed to write kernel level and interface code with Microsoft operating systems without the "insider" documentation being demanded in Europe. You don't have to know the details of how the IP stack works inside the Kernel to program to it.] Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
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Actually, in this case, Microsoft has a point. The EU has refused to give Microsoft the specific complaints (I believe 13 of them) that outline the type of information the complaintants weren't receiving. Several of the companies that filed complaints have openly stated they are satisfied with the information they have received from Microsoft. In other words, the EU has told Microsoft to reveal information. Microsoft says, "What information." The EU says, "We aren't going to tell you, but when you reveal enough we'll stop fining you." The whole thing is a classic shakedown by the EU. If a private citizen did this, they would be charged with a felony. [EDIT: Moreover, hundreds, if not thousands, of companies around the world have managed to write kernel level and interface code with Microsoft operating systems without the "insider" documentation being demanded in Europe. You don't have to know the details of how the IP stack works inside the Kernel to program to it.] Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
I would also add that over the years many companies have introduced Windows innovations even before MS itself did, despite MS's owning the OS! Kevin
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Actually, in this case, Microsoft has a point. The EU has refused to give Microsoft the specific complaints (I believe 13 of them) that outline the type of information the complaintants weren't receiving. Several of the companies that filed complaints have openly stated they are satisfied with the information they have received from Microsoft. In other words, the EU has told Microsoft to reveal information. Microsoft says, "What information." The EU says, "We aren't going to tell you, but when you reveal enough we'll stop fining you." The whole thing is a classic shakedown by the EU. If a private citizen did this, they would be charged with a felony. [EDIT: Moreover, hundreds, if not thousands, of companies around the world have managed to write kernel level and interface code with Microsoft operating systems without the "insider" documentation being demanded in Europe. You don't have to know the details of how the IP stack works inside the Kernel to program to it.] Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
Is there any official body that can sue the EU? Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New) -
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
about as believable as Clinton not knowing what sexual relations are
But be fair, he was from Arkansas! :) Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^]
Rob Manderson wrote:
But be fair, he was from Arkansas!
Yep, he thought that a sexual relation is a cousin! ;P
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Is there any official body that can sue the EU? Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)The European Parliament could smack down the European Commission if they wanted to. Few Europeans, even, really know how the EU works. The Commission is basically the EU's civil service but also has executive functions when acting collectively in negotiations with foreign entities or where the member states have agreed to function collectively. Effectively the member states' governments act as the executive for the most part in internal matters - Directives from the legislative function must be implemented in member states' own legal framework, and fines can be imposed on any member state that does not implement a Directive within a certain period. The legislative function is carried out by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament - the Parliament being directly elected by the populace while the Council of Ministers is simply a collection of delegations from the member states' executives. Depending on the subject under discussion a decision of the Council of Ministers may require either unanimity by the delegations, or so-called Qualified Majority Voting, where each delegation has a number of votes based on the population of their member state, and the result is decided by the majority of those votes. Legislation must now pass both the Parliament and Council of Ministers to become a Directive. The Commission can propose legislation. Decisions of the Commission can be appealed to the Court of First Instance, and Microsoft had already appealed the case immediately after the decision was first taken in 2004 - not the fines, but the whole decision, including 'no media' editions of Windows and the server protocol documentation. It comes to the court in a few weeks time if I recall correctly. Stability. What an interesting concept. -- Chris Maunder
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Rob Manderson wrote:
But be fair, he was from Arkansas!
Yep, he thought that a sexual relation is a cousin! ;P
Vivic wrote:
Yep, he thought that a sexual relation is a cousin!
:laugh:
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
about as believable as Clinton not knowing what sexual relations are
But be fair, he was from Arkansas! :) Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^]
Rob Manderson wrote:
he was from Arkansas!
:laugh: Jeremy Falcon
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That's a crock of solidified methane. Microsoft was told they would be fined if they didn't comply, and they knew how much they could be fined. Saying that MS didn't know what was expected of them is about as believable as Clinton not knowing what sexual relations are. Stop being an apologist for Microsoft and open your eyes.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Stop being an apologist for Microsoft and open your eyes.
That's funny. This is CP, the land of milk and Windows. Like this is ever gonna happen. 5 btw. Jeremy Falcon
