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The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual.

-Samuel Smiles

Microsoft bullied by EU

When I heard the reports last month that Microsoft had opened up the source code of its Windows Server OS (hoping to avoid a possible 2 million euro per day fine from a 2004 court decision), my first thought was that Microsoft had been absolutely bullied by the government, and as with any bully, the EU would only be encouraged to go for more.
"We have now come to the conclusion that the only way to be certain of satisfying the Commission's demands is to go beyond the 2004 Decision and offer a license to the source code of the Windows server operating system," said Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith. That license to the source code can now be given to any software developer who tells the EU they need it in order to make their software work better with the Windows OS. What about Microsoft's intellectual property rights? Well, screw them, they're a big old mean corporation. Right?

It isn't enough for the bully. Today, Microsoft is in the news again. I did a search of the news nets and found Brussels Journal right at the top, and they have also noted that the EU tactics are familiar to the schoolyard. Over the last six months or so, Brussels Journal has become my favorite for news about Europe, behind only the Economist. From Brussels Journal's article on Microsoft:

The EU Commission swiftly reminded the media and Microsoft that it is the European Commission’s responsibility, and not Microsoft’s, to decide whether it was in compliance. So the EU prosecutor is simultaneously adopting the roles of the judge and jury. In the light of the Commission’s anti-trust and competition policy so far, one can be pretty sure that it will still refuse to acknowledge compliance.
The saddest thing in all this is that European consumers are the real victims of the European Commission’s crusade against companies that serve their customers well.

Well said, Chresten Anderson. And readers, if you think Microsoft is evil, don't use them. It really, really, really is that simple.

Posted by Wulf on February 18, 2006 at 04:02 PM

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Comments

I tried to buy a computer yesterday with no OS installed. Circuit City/Staples/Costco all said I "must" buy MS OS with it. Who did you say the "bully" was?

Posted by: george spelvin at March 1, 2006 3:29 PM

First of all, look at where you are trying to buy computers from. Stores that are all in bed with Microsoft and tell you that you "have" to have an OS. Saying Microsoft is a bully because they have an agreement with stories that sell computers pre-loaded with Windows is a far stretch indeed. I would imagine that Best Buy and CompUSA do not have OS-less systems as well. Those days are long past us.

If you want a computer without an OS system, buy a toaster oven, or a Mac.

Posted by: Boon at March 1, 2006 4:05 PM

All I can say is that he didn't "try" to hard. When you go to buy a
computer in a retail shop most customers want it to work out of the box.
Microsoft knows this and made deals with the manufacturers of the pc's and
probably with the retail locations that somehow compensates either the
manufacturer or the store with every unit sold so they can sell the systems
lower than the guy next door.

It is not hard at all to find a computer that has no software installed.
You just won't find it in a place where 99% of the public wants instant
gratification and can't be bothered by more than taking it home and plugging
it in to get it working.

Posted by: Dodds at March 3, 2006 8:59 PM

The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual.

-Samuel Smiles

Microsoft bullied by EU

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