RSSIBM, Nokia, Red Hat Join EU Against MS
By Nate Mook | Published April 6, 2005, 11:32 AM
A technology lobby group, backed by IBM, Nokia and Red Hat, has asked to join the European Commission in its fight against Microsoft. According to the European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS), its goal is show there is still support for the EU's antitrust battle with Redmond.
The ECIS, which also includes RealNetworks and Oracle, has asked the European Court of First Instance to let it refute claims by Microsoft that technology companies do not support the Commission's ruling against it and subsequent penalties.
Some initial backers of the EU's crackdown have distanced themselves from the case, leading to claims by Microsoft officials that the Commission stands alone in its views. However, the ECIS accused Microsoft of "buying off" EU supporters and said the technology industry fully supports the Commission's efforts.
The Commission found one year ago that Microsoft had abused its position in the market to stifle competition, ordering the company to pay a 497 million euro fine. The EU also demanded that Microsoft remove Windows Media Player from Windows XP, allow competitors access to server source code, and provide better interoperability between platforms.
Microsoft on Monday responded to a letter sent by European regulators in late March, saying it accepted 20 out of the Commission's 26 demands. Source code licensing, however, has become a sticking point with Microsoft refusing access to open source projects.
A company representative told BetaNews that Microsoft wants to find a way to share its technologies such that "the source code wouldn't be published itself so that the confidentiality of our information is preserved."
EU spokesperson Jonathan Todd told BetaNews, "The Commission is still analysing the Microsoft letter and has not reached any conclusions yet. For the moment, the Commission has not agreed to anything that Microsoft has proposed."
Imo The ECIS are only doing this because if successful they will get a 'leg up' from it. Whether this be that by showing support for the EU they hope not to be accused of similar, or they just get an advantage over ms (spose effectively the same thing).
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|At first I originally thought that the EU had a good idea, and potentially a great way to break MS down. However, by strictly targeting MS and telling them that you want them to open their SOURCE CODE to an OS... This is nutz. Why in the world would any reasonable developer/development firm open up their source code? You do not purchase Microsoft Windows, you purchase a license to use the software. Since you are only purchasing a license, you have no right to demand the source code. If MS accepted this, then they would pave the way for EVERY developer being forced to allow open access to all of their code. Why would you want to be a developer after that? There would be no money in it. What good is a patent if the law won't uphold it? Nice try EU, but you just re-affirmed my belief that just because you're the old dog on the block doesn't mean you have the most knowledge... On the other hand, maybe you should just be put out of your misery.
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|your arguement is an invalid one, as MSA already gives out their os source code, just not to any developers who give their software away rather than charging for it
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|Everything I am reading about EU is disgusting me. How the hÉll can they make Microsoft do anything? There is nothing illegal about selling your own products. Don't Dell, HP, Compaq, and IBM sell their PC's that include free trials of: AOL, Earthlink, RealPlayer, Roxio, Sonic, Macintosh (Quicktime), Symantec, Mcafee, and Trend-Micro software packages??? Why the hÉll aren't you screwing them, EU?!? Better yet, sue Dell since they use NVIDIA video cards or Intel for buying "exclusivity contracts"? Sue Chevy for using GE sound systems? Is there anyone other than I that see no reason whatsoever for this utter BS?
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|I think EU is just aiming on MS because it has monopoly when it comes to operating systems, yes linux is gaining in and yes firefox is gaining, but it ain't enough.
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|I have to agree with you, I am getting quite sick of see what the EU is doing, M$ may be allot of things, but they do there job well enough, and there is enough demo software out there that no one is left out.
If someone really wants the annoying ads in Real Audio there welcome to download the program :P
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|Monopoly my a** that it is such a crock. ms is not a monopoly, is it their fault people choose their os over crappy ones like mac os and linux? the majority of the world used windows because it is a superior product.
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|I'm sorry, but until you become a judge in one of two countries that have ruled them a monopoly your opinion will remain invalid. Until then they are a monopoly so now you have to deal with it whether you like it or not. Instead of crying foul, you should consider the facts and hope that they work honorably towards meeting the challenge that the EU has put before them. It appears to me that they are in fact working very hard towards resolution and I have to commend them (Microsoft) for that.
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|Unfortunently you cannot rule an opinion invalid as an opinion is an opinion and not fact.
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|The opinion doesn't change the fact or reflect the facts thus it's invalid. ;-)
http://www.freesearch.co...dictionary/invalidating
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|So the idea is that Microsoft needs to give openly all what it has spent billions of $$$ for?? That is socialism! Should APPLE be allowed to ship with QuickTime installed on OSX? (They don’t ship with Realplayer or MS Mediaplayer for osx) But doesn't it conflict with the DMCA. People just don't have the right to reverse engineer products. Or that doesn’t count unless it’s dealing with Movies and music.
It’s nice to see US tech companies pushing for the EU to attack and fine US companies. It worked here in the US sun, oracle, IBM.. Couldn’t beat M$ with better products they have to do it in court. We ALL have the option to use our OS of choice.
05/04/2007 EU to sue FORD for not releasing source code for Mustang’s on board computer or they can not provide a car stereo in new cards!!
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|"So the idea is that Microsoft needs to give openly all what it has spent billions of $$$ for?? That is socialism!"
No, that is the rule of law. If I made $2B and I made $1B of it illegally, should I only lose $1B in court? no. It's not socialism and what Microsoft has done to earn their money surely isn't capitalism.
"Should APPLE be allowed to ship with QuickTime installed on OSX?"
Sure, as long as you can opt out. Otherwise, no.
"It’s nice to see US tech companies pushing for the EU to attack and fine US companies. It worked here in the US sun, oracle, IBM.. Couldn’t beat M$ with better products they have to do it in court. We ALL have the option to use our OS of choice."
No, Microsoft used illegal tactics to push themselves to the top and everyone else out of or nearly out of the marketspace. They have been found guilty of that, why can't you comprehend that?
"05/04/2007 EU to sue FORD for not releasing source code for Mustang’s on board computer or they can not provide a car stereo in new cards!!"
Bad choice, you used a car in your futuristic example that you don't seem to know much about but I actually own. Obviously not a 2007 but you are playing on common misconceptions about the car ni your example.
For the computer: http://www.superchips.co.../products/ford/cars.htm or http://www.jmschip.com/shop/index.php?cPath=1 or http://www.fox-performance.com/diablo-go.asp
For the audiophile: http://www.crutchfieldad...ws/mustang_install.html
Read back a few days of news articles, you'll find that I didn't agree that they should release the code however they were found guilty so even if I don't agree I can post all day long and it doesn't really matter.
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|I agree. You can't make people buy a product that they don't want. Just like the EU can't make the USA do what it wants. They can all go straight to the hot place as far as I'm concerned, and take those whining ninnies with them.
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|the governments of the world disagree wiuthg you. MS has been labelled as a monopoly by several of the biggest ones :)
and FYI, MS didnt get to be the biggest by selling a superior product. The past of windows is full of messes and blue screens of death, shady liocensing deals with resellers, and flooding the market through both legal and nefarious means.
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|good point
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|MS is a very poor operating system it slows down if ran for long periods of time. Linux on the other hand is secure and can be left on for Months without shutting down. NW
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