EU fines Microsoft $1.4 bn?

Question

Don't you people find that EU is fining too much for a lousy media player?

Do you think EU is practicing protectionism?

Will the US government have something to say about it?

I mean what would happen if the german Mercedes gets fined $1.4bn for not wanting to share their technologies with Ford, so Ford can compete with them!

Do you think its fair to take money from an american company and include it in their own budget?

I don't know about you but i find it outrageous, and the US government should act tough on it.US government showed their muscles in wars but they just watch how EU is stealing $1.4bn from the USA ?

Answer 1

"Don't you people find that EU is fining too much for a lousy media player?"

Yes: they likely shouldn't be charging anything.

"Do you think EU is practicing protectionism?"

So does the US; but Europe's likely worse.

"Will the US government have something to say about it?

I mean what would happen if the german Mercedes gets fined $1.4bn for not wanting to share their technologies with Ford, so Ford can compete with them!"

I hope not.

I support Free trade even if it's un-reciprocated.

Mercedes shouldn't suffer because Microsoft is getting hurt by a European court:

it'd be unfair to Mercedes

---or any other European company that might affected.



"Do you think its fair to take money from an american

company and include it in their own budget?"

That's what nation-states do everywhere.

Is it fair that subsidiaries owned by foreign companies be compelled to fund stupid policies such as the war on drugs or Bush's idiotic foreign policy?

I don't.

"I don't know about you but i find it outrageous, and the US government should act tough on it.US government showed their muscles in wars but they just watch how EU is stealing $1.4bn from the USA ?"

That $1.4 billion is also stolen from Microsoft's European customers who are likely affected by higher Microsoft prices due to fines/legal fees.

However, Microsoft likely can handle the Europeans well enough.

Microsoft likely has more to fear from Google.

"PS: They also don't do enough to fight software p****y, the internet is full of illegal software and a lot of them are europeans."

It's been a long time since I believe in much of what is considered "intellectual property rights":

hence, if anything,

I'd encourage the Europeans on that matter.

Besides, in regards to patents,

didn't Bill Gates get a big start by ripping off Gary Kildall?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Kildal...

http://www.digitalresearch.biz/Gary.Kild...

Answer 2

It's not protectionism, it is fairness in competition. It's like having a Ford that can ONLY run on Ford gas. What the EU is trying to do is to prevent Microsoft from having a monopoly. It is not aimed at US companies: it actually helps other US companies, such as Linux, Sun, IBM, HP, etc... any company that wants to be competitive in the market. Microsoft is trying to prevent other companies from being competitive.

If Microsoft want to sell Microsoft products in Europe, it has to adapt to European laws. Just like European products have to adapt to US laws to be sold in the US. Mercedes has to adapt to US standards.

Also, the EU is not taking US money; Microsoft has been over-charging for years for the use of its patents. The EU ruling is fair, as all companies are subject to the same laws. These regulations have existed since 2004. It is not just "a lousy media player", it is the principle, and the fact that Microsoft has been fined several times before, and still hasn't changed its policy.

Answer 3

1 billion? Bill Gates carries more in his wallet.