[LINK] EU fines Microsoft half a billion euros

[Antony Barry]

EU fines Microsoft half a billion euros


Bill Gates ... another blow. Photo: Jon Reid

  European regulators on Wednesday went dramatically further than their 
US counterparts by imposing a record fine of 497 million euros ($A817 
million) and product changes on US software giant Microsoft for 
stifling competitors.

The European Union's competition commissioner, Mario Monti, announced 
at the end of a five-year investigation that he was fining the world's 
biggest software company for abusing its dominant market position.

The Italian commissioner also ordered Bill Gates's titan to offer a 
European version of its all-conquering Windows operating system without 
the Media Player program within 90 days.

And Microsoft was ordered to disclose "complete and accurate" data to 
enable rival companies to offer low-end servers that can work with 
Windows within 120 days.

More at http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/24/1079939721541.html


phone : 02 6241 7659 | mailto:me at Tony-Barry.emu.id.au
mobile: 04 1242 0397 | http://tony-barry.emu.id.au