EU Smacks Down Microsoft's Antitrust Appeal
from the surprise,-surprise dept
Given just how many times EU regulators have complained about Microsoft's inability to comply with antitrust rulings, it probably comes as little to no surprise to find out that an EU court has rejected Microsoft's appeal of the antitrust ruling against the company, that could cost the company well over $600 million. The court continues to insist that Microsoft needs to sell a version of Windows without Microsoft's media player included while also requiring it to open up more to competitors who want to make sure their software works well with Windows. Of course, it's still not clear how this benefits consumers in any way. It's true that Microsoft bundles its media player, but many, many people have been willing to download and use alternatives. Also, Microsoft is a lot more open than most companies in allowing competitors technology to work on its operating systems. The company has known for quite some time that its success as a platform depends on this. It's hard to see how these are problems that requires regulatory involvement when the market should suffice. There's no doubt that Microsoft has done some nasty things to smaller competitors, but in judging whether or not an antitrust ruling makes sense, the final analysis should depend on whether or not the customer will be better or worse off. It's not clear how the customer is any better off from this decision.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Indeed,
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it isnt just the direct effects
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"..many people have been willing to download and use alternatives" practically nothing in comparison to the number that have not.
"Microsoft is a lot more open than most companies.." so what planet are you on ? ... Oh wait, I get it, your talking about the behavior of a American company outside of the US and the reaction of the un-Americans, so everyhting is OK then.
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Monopolistic practices
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The real reason
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The EU and Microsoft
I'm very pro-linux but I hate using it - the overhead is simply huge. I'd NEVER ask a customer to use it unless it was their preference. What a waste of time trying to get it to work and keep it working. Oh I know the open fans hate Microsoft - but I think it's because Windows is easy to use and the Linux product just doesn't seem to be.
Software is fundamentally different from other products - the MARKET has 'standardized' on windows - not Microsoft through poor business practice. I mean they seem to have stinky practices but I doubt their market share would be any less if they 'behaved' - it's just too useful to have a 'basic' product on every meachine that anyone can use.
I know - why not let the EU create an ISO standard for an OS and give it away. I suspect it would eventually take away dozens of licenses from Microsoft.
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I don't believe for a moment that having WM Player inhibits other players. It isn't even selfish about allowing other players to open its file types. If many haven't explored other options, maybe that's because it works all right. People who don't like it, though, are able to *easily* choose others.
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Microsoft
They try to buy and strong arm their will on everyone and everything. Their actions show contempt for the law, and for the justice system. They just won't give in until they see there is no chance left that they can buy or bully a decision. Just look at the OOXML debacle. Won't give in yet, until they get hit on the head with the 2x4. Hitler would not give in until, until he had to shoot himself in the head. Do you see the resemblance?
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Forget wmp for a minute
These sentences seem very close to mutual exclusion but the MS I know has only ever wanted things one way, their way.
I see this ruling as a result of MS's long standing refusal to share API's with developers who which to write programs that can inter-operate with a Windows OS. Andrew Tridgell's efforts to enable Samba to talk with MS SMB/CIFS is just one of hundreds of examples. Sharing API's doesn't hurt MS in the least and their primary reason for doing so is to block what they see as "competition".
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Re: Forget wmp for a minute
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EU are a bunch of whinners
i'd really like to see m$ just say "we aint gonna release a non-US version". period. then strip out all the non-US crap that they bundle in, like temperature and measurements, and even other languages.
linux and open office are viable options. somewhat, anyway. i am not a user of m$ office and havent been for several years. my days with windows are not unlimited. I believe XP is the end of my using it.
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eh?
While I would agree that Microsoft is morally bankrupt and a fair approximation of evil incarnate I wouldn't call them "Fascist". The US for the most part is aware that the evil empire is in fact evil and I for one would like nothing better than to see them brought to there knees by open source programming.
However, we also recognize legislative and regulatory stupidity when we see it, because we have been exposed to it so often.
The aren't selling the player, they are giving it away and frankly I wouldn't use the stupid thing if they paid me to, winamp works fine thanks.
I suppose the next antitrust suit against them will be because solitaire and minesweeper come packaged with windows and that creates unfair competition with euro gaming software producers...
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Fair Competition
This whole thing is kinda like the EU demanding that Tyson Gay wear ankle weights because he wins all the races.
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Re: Fair Competition
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Question re Apple
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Ummm....
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Re: Ummm....
In all fairness this is probably due in quite a large degree to these being the only bits which have been heavily reported by the EU legislative for the same reasons
Then various posters went off on the usual 'EU = big bad red commie' thing as usual and sense took a back seat. Coming from a nation whose president's grandpa supported Hitler and tried to overthrow Roosevelt I always find these comments particularly amusing (flame on)
I agree with the general feeling re Media player and assorted add-on programs, I see no true disadvantage to the consumer having these bundled. In fact the opposite - if you want a basic player that just does basic stuff media player is great, my mum loves it and it works for her
Stating that it can't be bundled as this would destroy competition is a farce, and comparative to stating that cars can no longer be sold with car radios in them, as this would put out of business the manufacturers and shops selling them separately....utter bollocks
The important part of this bill is however the bit which most people left out, Microsoft have been reticent about handing out information on protocols and details on how windows servers 'talk' to one another. This is the bit which is bad in my opinion - they are using dominance of the desktop market to ensure dominance of the server market
The EUs ruling says they have to share this information so other manufacturers can have a look in and that’s a good thing in my opinion. As for all the posts complaining about the same sort of lock in from other manufacturers - you're right this is also bad, but the ruling just announced allows for precedence
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Re: Re: Ummm....
Stating that it can't be bundled as this would destroy competition is a farce, and comparative to stating that cars can no longer be sold with car radios in them, as this would put out of business the manufacturers and shops selling them separately....utter bollocks"
Actually the problem is more that manufacturer can't bundle another media player than WMP.
And to the EU == 2007 URSS, keep living in lalaland where your politicians can be bought by large corporations and defend their interests instead of yours.
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Re: Re: Re: Ummm....
Sorry I don't get that bit - no one actually stops the PC manufacturer from installing whatever software they want on top of media player and having media player does not prevent this
I have a few different 'media players' installed over the top of WMP and they all work, unlike a car a PC can have more than one
I don't see the argument unless it is that WMP is hard to uninstall? It seems over the top to be creating legislation for this?
Please let me know if i'm grabbing the wrong end of the stick here?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Ummm....
Sorry I don't get that bit - no one actually stops the PC manufacturer from installing whatever software they want on top of media player and having media player does not prevent this
I have a few different 'media players' installed over the top of WMP and they all work, unlike a car a PC can have more than one
I don't see the argument unless it is that WMP is hard to uninstall? It seems over the top to be creating legislation for this?
Please let me know if i'm grabbing the wrong end of the stick here?"
Basically if a manufacturer did bundle alternatives they would be strongharmed by MS to NOT do this, or at least considering the track record of MS I'm guessing they would do it.
Anyway the MAJOR problem is more that in Europe you CAN'T buy a pc unless it comes with Windows on it, you couldn't even get a refund for your OEM licence => bad for competition (why "buy" another system (commercial linux for example) if you already paid for 1).
Really if you can find me a manufacturer that bundles an OS with anthing other than WMP you would interest a lot of people....
Heck where I live if you don't want Windows preinstalled you have to :
- buy a Mac (not exactly a pc in its own right as it has its own problems)
- seek PC parts and do it yourself :-/
Factor in the fact that Mac can only be found in limited numbers AND at some specialised stores, you get the following choice for the average European joe :
- Windows Xp
- Windows Vista
How's that for free market and competition?
The problem here is that there never was competition to begin with, so saying MS sold a "good enough" product that people loved to buy is a GROSS misconception here as there never was a choice to begin with !!
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Human Nature
Just ask Bill Belichick and the Patriots how it all works.
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there is always "choice"
my current system is an Athlon 64 X2, 6400
SATA dvd/cd r & 200g hd, 1 gig mem
256m Vid card& a licensed OEM XP Prof
this year was expensive, mem was newer type [DDR2]
i no longer sell my "old" comps, i strip them down..why ??
1] i keep my license for microsux
2] people dont wanna buy the sys without windows on it
in re apple..i skipped over it in the 70's
i wont even use itunes or anything else apple, they are as bad as microsux
in re sun...they offer nothing i want
other than open office, which i have used for years
in re linux..what i use only runs on windows
business decisions have been made that go against linux
people want convieience, and therefore pay out the wazoo
and conv is why i am with XP over kubuntu/ubuntu
and also why i am with XP over Vista
take the time to learn and do some smart buying
the choices open ten-fold
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