Microsoft pays up
by Claudia Sonea
The allegations brought by the Microsoft's U.S.-based rivals, that have determined the European Commission to start a process against it, have finally come to an end. The European Court of First Instance ruled Monday in favor of EU, Microsoft being found guilty for using its desktop computer dominance to impose software and media players and having to pay the 2004 year fine of 613 million dollars. M.J. Moltenbray, a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, stated that for the antitrust a restrictive policy is the best. EU regulators have become more aggressive and charged Intel Corp. and Rambus Inc. with antitrust abuse, Apple Inc is next under the charge of restriction customer choice regarding separate national iTunes stores. Google is another prey and the acquirement of DoubleClick led to the allegations of too much power over personal data and online ads. Microsoft lawyer Brad Smith says that the ruling gave the Commission a broad power, affecting in the same time all the other industries. Assistant Attorney General Thomas O. Barnett votes against the decision saying that competition is the one protecting the consumer and therefore it should be encouraged. However, Neelie Kroes, EU Competition Commissioner, believes that the decision will affect only those that want to protect their innovations. In fact she proves disappointed because the customers still don't have from where to choose after three years since the giant company was fined. Ted Henneberry, a former Irish regulator and lawyer with Heller Ehrman LLP reveals that the victory will make them more aggressive and determined. Also EU regulators must watch out to not be transformed into a forum for disgruntled competitors. The decision to create a trustee to oversee Microsoft's compliance and force Microsoft to pay his costs fails was rejected by the court. The world's most powerful companies agree that there are a lot of things to do in order to comply with EU demands. When and how it will happen it is not known. Until further notice, don't go awayâ¦
related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070917/ap_on_hi_te/eu_microsoft;_ylt=AvXcfSQHBH0fmpZC2SS6GDes0NUE
| by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv) |
PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.
posted by Blog TechSource @ 2:24 PM
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