Microsoft Fined $731 Million by EU

[HS Cult Leader]

Microsoft Fined $731 Million by EU for Violating Browser Accord

By Aoife White - 2013-03-06T11:25:00Z

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) was fined 561 million euros ($731 million) by European Union regulators for violating the terms of a settlement to give users a choice of web browsers aside from its Internet Explorer.
Today’s fine -- about 1 percent of the company’s 2012 revenues -- brings to 2.24 billion euros the penalties faced by Microsoft in its EU antitrust clashes over the past decade, including an 899 million-euro fine for failing to obey an order to share data with competitors.
“A failure to comply is a very serious infringement that must be sanctioned accordingly,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in an e-mailed statement today.
The world’s largest software maker agreed in 2009 to offer access to rival browsers as a part of a settlement to repair its relationship with the bloc’s regulators. The company said last July it only learned that month that it didn’t offer its browser choice software to some 28 million computers running Windows 7 Service Pack 1, or 10 percent of the computers that should have received it.
Under the terms of Microsoft’s 2009 pledge, consumers who bought personal computers were given a choice of the 12 most widely used browsers to install in addition to, or instead of, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.
The Redmond, Washington-based company told regulators in December 2011 that it was complying with its commitment to display a browser-choice screen to users of its Windows operating system.


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Is there any computer user out there that actually has no idea that you can use a browser other then IE, let alone the few seconds it takes to get a hold of and install a new one?

[Beth143nacho]

I do love the idea of fines scaling with ones personal wealth.

[FlaFlaFlunkie]

I do love the idea of fines scaling with ones personal wealth.

1% of their wealth for one year.

It's like the pharmaceutical industry. They know they can break the law, so long as it doesn't look deliberate because whatever fines are issued, no matter how enormous it might seem to us, it doesn't amount to more than a scratch of a flesh wound to them.

Same thing with the oil industry and all the other giants. Short of actual proof of criminal conduct, they can sweat any fine levied at them.

They're untouchable. Too big to break, like the banks.

[Nemo]

Fuck the EU!

[Dick Gozinya]

Whiny assholes. Don't like the browser, install something else. Who gives a fuck? Probably the same asslicks that buy a Windows computer and complain it doesn't come with choice of operating system.

[FlaFlaFlunkie]

Whiny assholes. Don't like the browser, install something else. Who gives a fuck? Probably the same asslicks that buy a Windows computer and complain it doesn't come with choice of operating system.

I think the problem is that since Microsoft dominates both the O/S and browser market (at least they used to dominate the browser market; their time has come and passed in that area), most non-technical users would have no idea they even had a choice in browser and just, by default, stick with IE and not even know that had a choice.

That perpetuates the monopoly and I think that's what the lawsuits and ensuing fines are about.

[TelegramSam]

Whiny assholes. Don't like the browser, install something else. Who gives a fuck? Probably the same asslicks that buy a Windows computer and complain it doesn't come with choice of operating system.

It's not about "choice of operating system", it's about being forced to pay the Windows tax. Whether I want it or not, it's preloaded, and jacks up the price of any laptop I want to buy. I've been running either Linux or BSD since the mid 90's when NeXTSTEP was turned into the Apple OS, and I don't like the fact that I'm being forced to pay for a service I will never use, do not want, and don't endorse. Kind of like being stuck with SiriusXM when I bought my new car...

[FlaFlaFlunkie]

It's not about "choice of operating system", it's about being forced to pay the Windows tax. Whether I want it or not, it's preloaded, and jacks up the price of any laptop I want to buy. I've been running either Linux or BSD since the mid 90's when NeXTSTEP was turned into the Apple OS, and I don't like the fact that I'm being forced to pay for a service I will never use, do not want, and don't endorse. Kind of like being stuck with SiriusXM when I bought my new car...

I've never noticed a "microsoft tax." Where is this and how much is it?

[TelegramSam]

I've never noticed a "microsoft tax." Where is this and how much is it?

It's bundled into your laptop/desktop; the only way around it is to build your own desktop, or buy an out of the box Linux laptop (there are a few, but not many). In order to have Windows 8 on your new computer, a portion of the money that you pay goes toward that Microsoft license. You don't have a choice.

So, if I want to buy a new Dell XPS laptop, but I don't have any intention of using Windows and will just wipe it and install Linux as soon as I get it, why should I have to pay for a Windows license? The PC makers are in bed with Microsoft. One way around this is to buy a Chromebook. It has Google's Chrome OS which is based on Gentoo Linux. I recently bought a Chromebook, and installed a true Linux distro after I got it, and avoided paying the Windows tax/license fee. I would still really like a Dell XPS with an HD screen, but I won't buy one out of principle, and Google is about to roll out a high end Chromebook anyway.

[FlaFlaFlunkie]

It's bundled into your laptop/desktop; the only way around it is to build your own desktop, or buy an out of the box Linux laptop (there are a few, but not many). In order to have Windows 8 on your new computer, a portion of the money that you pay goes toward that Microsoft license. You don't have a choice.

So, if I want to buy a new Dell XPS laptop, but I don't have any intention of using Windows and will just wipe it and install Linux as soon as I get it, why should I have to pay for a Windows license? The PC makers are in bed with Microsoft. One way around this is to buy a Chromebook. It has Google's Chrome OS which is based on Gentoo Linux. I recently bought a Chromebook, and installed a true Linux distro after I got it, and avoided paying the Windows tax/license fee. I would still really like a Dell XPS with an HD screen, but I won't buy one out of principle, and Google is about to roll out a high end Chromebook anyway.

Yeah, but I still have no idea how much you saved by doing that. Can you give me an idea of how much the Microsoft license increases the cost of a laptop.

Let's say the laptop costs $1,000. (nice, easy number)
How much of that goes to Microsoft for the licensing of Windows?


I'm not trolling. I really have no idea.

[Anyonenow]

It's not about "choice of operating system", it's about being forced to pay the Windows tax. Whether I want it or not, it's preloaded, and jacks up the price of any laptop I want to buy. I've been running either Linux or BSD since the mid 90's when NeXTSTEP was turned into the Apple OS, and I don't like the fact that I'm being forced to pay for a service I will never use, do not want, and don't endorse. Kind of like being stuck with SiriusXM when I bought my new car...

So buy an Apple Laptop. Problem Solved!

Oh wait.


BTW...what you call a "Windows Tax" is the same REASON that you can buy a CHEAP PC/Laptop.

[TelegramSam]

So buy an Apple Laptop. Problem Solved!

Oh wait.


BTW...what you call a "Windows Tax" is the same REASON that you can buy a CHEAP PC/Laptop.

And a comparable Chromebook is cheaper, why? You make no sense. ASUS has gotten away from it, but they sold several laptops without Windows up until a year or two ago as well, and they were all cheaper than the Windows model. The Apple OS is a dummed down, shell of a true UNIX operating system and if you're into Apple you have to admit that. Any OS without a command line shouldn't call itself a UNIX derivative.

[Anyonenow]

And a comparable Chromebook is cheaper, why? You make no sense. ASUS has gotten away from it, but they sold several laptops without Windows up until a year or two ago as well, and they were all cheaper than the Windows model. The Apple OS is a dummed down, shell of a true UNIX operating system and if you're into Apple you have to admit that. Any OS without a command line shouldn't call itself a UNIX derivative.

You Answered your OWN question.
And CONFIRMED my Statement.
Thank you

[ohmicah]

We can only hope this doesn't affect The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's funding of Planned Parenthood. They are really concerned with keeping the population manageable, just like good overlords should.

It's odd that such a philanthropist is involved with so many anti-trust lawsuits.

[renchfrieswith]

That's a bunch of stupid shit.

Who the fuck cares about having IE installed anyway. Just don't use it and install something else.

Apple also has Safari pre-installed on their computers and they don't get any shit for it.

[HooHoo]

That's a bunch of stupid shit.

Who the fuck cares about having IE installed anyway. Just don't use it and install something else.

Apple also has Safari pre-installed on their computers and they don't get any shit for it.

The difference is OSX only has single digit marketshare, brains. Windows has the monopoly and when you're biggest then all eyes are upon you. Go up and read FlaFla's points.

What happened here is the EU told MS to create a choice option, so Microsoft created a ballot screen to choose browsers in Windows 7. Later, Microsoft thought the heat had died down and removed that choice option in Service Pack 1. Stupid move and they're getting busted on it now.

Longtime Windows user but I shed no tears for the braintrust at Microsoft. The abortion that is Metro in Windows 8 should get fined a billion as well since its little more than poor attempt at customer lockin that's alienated all but the most naive/tolerant of users. Fuckem until they remove the cancer that is Steve Ballmer

[FlaFlaFlunkie]

Changes to software, websites, games, etc., should be gradual, not drastic, ASSHATS.

[FlaFlaFlunkie]

Don't even get me started on the disaster that they turned the Microsoft Office suite into, particularly Word and Excel.

"I know what we'll do. We'll take a beloved software suite that people have been using for more than a decade and we'll fucking REARRANGE where EVERYTHING is so people can take TWICE AS LONG as they used to to get their FUCKING WORK DONE."

[username]

MSFT business model is to cheat and make crappy products. They have been caught many times. The fun thing is that consumers are so retarded that they don't understand.
MSFT(Goole) are Open. Evil Apple is closed.
At the same time MSFT always uses own standards to look consumers in. Gamers for example have to use windows since MSFT dont follow open standards but uses DirectX. MSFT tried to do the same with Internet. There is still tons of web pages that dont work in a non-MSFT browser.

It you have worked with IT in a corporation you know how they work.
Companies need Office. To get Office you need Windows. To get Windons, you need Windows server and so on. Since companies cant handle single license (because of MSFT. Other companies have solved this with a licensing "server" that check in-out license) companies have to sign volume licence/select agreement. But you cant just get volume license in the program you want. You get all or nothing.

So.. You wanted Office and ends up with everything.

And finally companies are throwing out MSFT. When they dont need Office, they don't need the rest of the crappy product.

MSFT have always made bad products to force users to upgrade. (Win7 was the first good OS. No where great, but good enough)

Now:
Fuck EU. In Europe when companies misbehave and have to pay fines: The fines goes to the politicians, not the users that have payed for the shit. When oil companies was caught in a cartel in my country: they didnt have to change prices. They only had to pay a fine. To the government. Customers are fucked by companies and then the government.

(openness vs close. MSFT/Google are not opened. Your are forced to use their OS. I cant take an Android phone and install Windows in it. The only openness is that different manufactures can use the software. Apple in other hand have always followed all open standards. Anyone can do any HTML5 app for an iOS device for example. No need for App store/ or anything else. Its 100% open. But... to many people who thinks they know IT. I work in the IT since 1997 and less then 10% working with it have a clue. How can average joe then have a clue? I have science degree in computing. If-And-Or gate level of knowledge)

[FlaFlaFlunkie]

And finally companies are throwing out MSFT. When they dont need Office, they don't need the rest of the crappy product.

What programs are they using for word processing and spreadsheets if they're not using office? Also, if they're not using those programs, is the file extension one that someone working anywhere else in the world can open it?

That's part of the reason no one busted Microsoft's balls when they destroyed Lotus 1-2-3 and Word Perfect.

In the late '90s/ early 00's, most users would've been stuck on stupid if they received a file type with which they were unfamiliar.

Having that monopoly made business run smoother. Now, it's no biggie, but if you don't have a program to open the file type, then you'll have to change it to an rtf file for word processing (and a possible loss of fidelity) or a csv for spreadsheets, but same thing: possible loss of the way your doc was intended to look/function.

My point is, it's an extra step and a pain-in-the-ass...if that's the case (where the alternative programs save files with a different extension). don't even get me started on how retarded typical users are.