This isnt a debate. If EU wants MS to do something then they will do it or pack their bags. Just like people who do business in the USA has to comply to whatever requirements they might have.

I agree wholeheartedly with the EC on this--stick to due process of the law and do not become distracted by media hype, especially American media which favors MS. Our government is bought off by special interests, especially BIG OIL and the pharmaceutical industry.

Mosts of the comments here should have been removed by admins/moderators...

These comments are a shame for such a website.

Shame on the authors of insulting posts... you are worse than the ones you flame...

Hear hear...

It has now come down at name calling: EU being a bunch of socialists, which may be so but come on what a worthless arguement. It's just like US being a bunch of mindless capitalists.
Also the EU only being after MS' money is as worthless. The EU even postponed the deadline so MS could still comply but MS just F***ed up. Giving sourcecode when they were only asked for a way for other software makers to make software better compatible.
It's just like overwhelming the opponent with legal documents so lawsuits take years. I'm glad the EU didn't fall for it. MS knew that it was "worthless" and that's why they gave up their prescious sourcecode so soon.

At last. Just understand that the US isn't the only country in the world and that there are others with different believes. Please respect that.

Bravo. Someone has the pants well put to give Microsoft what they deserve for their deceptive tactics. They could have bought USA law, but I'm glad there are some people who aren't bought as easy as them.

And a really good answer... "who asked for the code? we asked for complete and accurate specifications, not pieces of code none understands... not even you!" LOL

MS just needs to burn a few cars and hold marches in various capitals.

Others in EU countries who do that get the 'leaders' out talking about understanding, love, etc at once.

Geez, will they just fine them and get it over with!

Yet again they are trying to worm their way out of their responsibilities under the law.

Just kill them, already!

Um, who's them?

Just curious...

All of the inbred freaks in the EU.

And where might you be from?

EU wants everything for free. And, if it comes from the U.S., they want us to pay to give it to them. They are a bunch of losers who don't deserve anything we have.

Meanwhile, to all the Microsoft bashers I keep seeing on the other threads, I have used PC's since the first ones came out. I have flirted with every operating system that has ever been offered, and nothing has ever compared to MS. Yes, they are profit driven, bury their competitors, over charge and every other foul thing the bashers come up with, but that is the way the game is played in corporate America. They have inspired creativity, and have made a lot of the software developers they "steal from" rich. Without MS, we would still be in the computer stone age.

"EU wants everything for free." Where and how did you get to that conclusion? Didn't you read the article?
In the article it clearly states the following: "It also said that Microsoft's decision to release source code was not obligatory under the March 2004 antitrust ruling".

The EU never asked for the source code...MS gave it to them.

So who are "the bunch of losers" now?

The source code is the heart and soul of MS; giving them that IS everything. Your indignation does not abrogate the EU's loser status.

Who's a bunch of loosers... EU citizens or the EU Commission???!

"EU wants everything for free"

Prove it.

"that is the way the game is played in corporate America"

Tell that to Enron, or worldcom. You forget that MS is not just a US entity and is bound by the laws of any nation they do business in.

Without MS you may be in a computer stone age however I recall that the computer world didn't get the boost it needed from Microsoft.

Commodore is the name you are thinking, they sold the most home computers ever, and I believe that it still holds the record today.

Before Windows there was the Mac, the Amiga, and many other computers that all did much more than any Microsoft based system at the time.

Sure Windows isn't bad, but you seem to be distorting history here.

OH COME ON!

Could you at least TRY to understand the article!

"It also said that Microsoft's decision to release source code was not obligatory under the March 2004 antitrust ruling, and that the company should not consider this a solution."

reminds me of clueless local school disctricts dictating technology they know nothing about, as a result coming up with the most inefficient/in-limbo plan possible, that real knowledgable people couldn't get themselves into if they tried. ;-p

LOL, and I have seen and experienced this first hand also. We had some guy that didn't even have a degree, but worked in a company fumbling his way through Windows98 as our technology coordinator. Never went and took anymore classes, but relied upon salesman from the various other companies we did business with to get his information. He hated me because I showed the staff how to go around him to configure their computers. His idea was to try to lock you out of everything so he didn't have to do anything.

He was a pure dweeb

The socialists are getting snippity, I see.

Microsoft, PULL OUT OF EU!!!

'nuff said!

amen, let the EU crash and burn trying to run everything on apple and linux ;)

Microsoft, Increase Piracy by 400% in the EU!

Microsoft, force your sharholders to sue you!

Stupid? Yeah, but that's what would likely happen if MS did pull out of the EU. It's not like they'd stop using the OS, and their shareholders, who's income comes from dividends on those now lost sales, are *not* going to be happy.

Hey, you beat me too it haha.

Yeah and when we finally did it others are going to follow us and bye bye Microsoft. It's just now rhat no one has the guts to completely change OS's nor the reason to.
No. MS doesn't want to loose its grip on the market.

Like I said before....

Microsoft should tell the EU to go get bent and just pull all of the software out of there.

If anyone uses Windows at all they should be forced to remove it.

Then Microsoft would have them begging to come back.

The EU is a bunch of whiners.

Dipheads.

The only problem is that that scenario would hurt Microsoft even more.

This situation really is a lose-lose for everyone (businesses and consumers) except the European Commission. They stand to gain quite a bit if Microsoft actually complies with their outrageous demands.

IT won't hurt Microsoft, as most of it's sales are American AFAIK...

I agree... Pull out Microsoft.

lmao..

Yes, it would hurt Microsoft. Regardless of sales in the WEU, their shareholders would sue the compnay for doing something so stupid.

Which demand is outrageous?

The only outrageous thing I see here is Microsoft yet again twisting the facts so the media makes the EU out to be the bad guy.

I can lighten it up:
Microsoft: "We are receiving a hail from the EU, on screen.

EU: "We are the EU, lower your firewall and power down your computers. We will add your code and technilogical distictivness to our own, resitance is futile. We are the EU."

You're close, but I think it's more like this:

Microsoft would result if the the Borg assimilated the Ferengi.

EU would result if the Borg assimilated the Pakleds.

I had to look up the standard borg message, so you are beyond me!

Quiet in here... too hot of a topic to comment on?

Always quiet before the storm.

I think it has already been well-established that the European Commission is an organization of clueless morons, so what else is there to say?

Let me be the first to say:

ZING!

LOL

Please show your sources.

PLEASE.

HAHA YES! Fewt, I knew it! Your a socialist!

LOL

Yeah, I don't think so.

You probably don't even know what a socialist is.

Your wrong again there buddy!

Doubtful.