Login:
Password:
Lost Password?
Print this article  |  E-mail this article  |  Comment on this article

U.S. Pressured EU to Go Easy on MS

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

September 26, 2006, 3:24 PM

The European Commission's Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes told a Dutch newspaper this week that she was pressured by the United States government to go easy on Microsoft. In the article, she criticized government officials for interfering in an EU matter.

Representatives have confirmed that Kroes was annoyed by the U.S. government's attempts to intervene, although she wouldn't say it herself. "In my work, I cannot have a preference," she told the Financieele Dagblad. "I have, however, a personal opinion, but that is for Saturday night."

Microsoft first asked the U.S. government for help in November, and also attempted to bring the U.S. court system into the battle, however they declined. In all cases, the courts ruled the case was between the EU and Microsoft, and the United States had no jurisdiction.

Kroes said government representatives asked her to be "nicer" before she handed down a decision to fine the Redmond company an additional 280.5 million euros ($357 million) back in July. However, she ignored the requests and the fines went forward.

Both Microsoft and U.S. Embassy representatives have not commented on the reports. But sources within the company say Microsoft itself was not responsible for the government's actions. It has also publicly denied that it was not complying with the EU antitrust ruling.

Add a Comment (36 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

Name (required):

E-mail (required):

Enter Your Comment:

By Scotch Moose

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 10:29 AM

We have the best goverment money can buy.

Score: 0

By radioactive21

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 1:38 AM

Everyone is wrong and everyone is right. Again its all relative.

If the EU had a company that is as big as Microsoft being sued by the US dont you think the EU would put pressure on people and such to back off?

At the core its not the politics, but its the business men who have interests in these companies and business. If you have a lot of money involved I am certain you'll go to great lengths to secure those interest, even if you have to pull some strings high up.

Score: 0

By bubba78

edited Sep 27, 2006 - 1:24 AM

The EU actions against MS are in the same league as AirBus Subsidies. EU cannot compete with the US. Regardless from whom the acquisitions come from (US companies), the EU is using this case as a means to counter US supremacy.

The fact that the EU laws do nothing to help competition or benefit EU citizens is of no concern. Fines of this sort are the only way the EU can pay for the social burden of ~10+% unemployment because their policies don't produce EU jobs.

Instead, the US is once again paying for ”enlightened” social policies of Europe.

Score: 0

By spef

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 3:03 AM

When you post things then mention at least both sides of the story:
http://europa.eu.int/rap...e=EN&guiLanguage=en

On your unemployment figures:
http://www.ibeurope.com/Records/9000/9057.htm

Score: 0

By cranbers

edited Sep 27, 2006 - 12:06 AM

I think the united states government should stay out of another countries affairs. Who knows who told them to do it, but I find it hard to believe microsoft didn't ask them for help.

Microsoft has probably had some kind of influence in every single aspect of the government, this could be from discounts or campaign money, whatever.

Let them do what they want I say. They are just a company that using unethical methods to make money. It's the most common and get rich as fast as possible scheme in the world. Nothing wrong with making money it is the human condition.

The fact the world uses outdated polluting technology and addictive deadly properties to prove this is worth mentioning. Microsoft is no different then tobacco companies, oil companies or anything else like that. All these companies do unethical things to remain as rich as possible and there money and influence is the key. Do we chose to buy their products, yeah but typically we don't have much of a choice or the choice is made as difficult as possible. Government are under the spell as well, taxes from these companies/industries are insane as well as campaign contributions. Let them do what they want, we have to get money from people one way or another. So we can spend it on going to war that really can't be won. Right or wrong?

Score: 0

By Realist

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 3:10 AM

Thanks for editing out your murder conspiracy fantasy.

Score: 0

By Realist

edited Sep 26, 2006 - 11:24 PM

Don't know where you get your death fantasies from, but this is the reality of Bill Gates;
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

Score: 0

By Scotch Moose

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 10:34 AM

The foundation does good work under the guidance of an extraordinarily well paid chief executive who is, what a coincidence, Bill's father.

Score: 0

By cranbers

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 11:40 PM

he may give away a little bit of his money but I have no doubt its all publicity stunt. YOu think he is giving away his own money? I doubt it, if an average person had his kind of money I would give it away too, although to him the amount given away would be the same as someone giving 50 dollars from their 5 thousand dollar check. Doesn't really make a difference in my opinnion. Give away a billion to something that makes sense. Not 5 million or 20 even. He gives more then that away to rival companies suing his company for stealing ideas and screwing them up the ass.

Score: 0

By Realist

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 3:08 AM

You should really do a little research about philanthropy. The Gates foundation is not a publicity stunt and your made up analogous numbers are nothing but continued fantasies on your part. Just like the idea you came up with about Gates having people killed. Bill Gates has saved more lives than you have dollars or euros and I'd be certain his percentage of giving vs net worth is much higher than yours as well, assuming you give anything at all to charity.

Score: 0

By Scipio

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 10:01 PM

The EU government is a centralized bureaucratic nightmare with no responsibility to the voters. They lay down the law to member states, and the citizens of those states have no recourse, because they can't take the usual democratic step of "throwing the b*stards out if the don't like them.

I can't work up a lot of sympathy for them. They are bloodsucking leaches and ideologues.

Score: 0

By HalBSure

edited Sep 26, 2006 - 7:39 PM

I would like to point out that I am not wearing pants.

Score: 0

By kronix2

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 7:26 PM

How about the idiots who post comments along the line of "EU sux!!!!!!!" realise that the EU has a right to determine acceptable business practice in its jurisdiction? It's none of America's business what we decide to do in the EU.

Am I too optimistic?

Score: 0

By crashoverride

edited Sep 26, 2006 - 7:50 PM

You are probably being too optimistic. Our government has this nasty habit of sticking it's nose where it has no business. MS took on this burden when it became a global entity and should have to carry the load itself.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 6:33 PM

Why wouldn't they? Microsoft gives the US lots of money.

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 6:28 PM

Here's some food for thought(USA likes that allot i heard ... but anyway), here in the UK just like most of the counties in europe, neither care, understand or give a $hit about the EU government. In the UK, we see them as money wasting beurocrats that are no different to the USA beurocrats messing with the affairs of different states.

So heres the sting ... Over here we have different laws. Laws for countrys and also european law, just like you have state laws and laws made by the senate or whatever. Over here, is MS wants to trade, then they do it by their own free choice, pay our tax's and follow our rules.

Fact is they knew the deal, im sure they have enough lawyers to read enough of the legal system to understand that they if they break our laws they will be fined. Of course this fine is a slap on the wrist to MS. They will hardly feel the pinch but they will surely service pack there thinking with each version of every OS they sell here until they get it right eventually.

If your going to sling mud at the EU, make sure you at least understand where its sticking. And wonder if your own USA is any different. At the end of the day you just dont like the fact that Europe courts are in your mind stealing USA cash. This cash is earned in the EU, its EU money earned from our economy following EU legislation, and if anyone breaks or bends rules and doesnt comply then they will be fined until they comply ... END of.

"Delay Vista in Europe 6 months, Microsoft. Or charge them E20 more each, citing regional legal concerns."

Then fine them 20% more and backdate it with interest, citing legal costs of course.

"Those fukers just want money and M$ is like their piggie bank. Everytime they run out of money they fine M$. Personally I think if anyone is going to fine M$ for 300 million it should be the U.S.A"

If they break the law then do it.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 5:35 PM

**** the EU. I would pull my product. Its not like MS can't afford it. Plus why would we want $300 million going to them when it could help fund our country? Here's a tip EU. If you want money...I know this is gonna sound crazy...but how about you tax the people that will be benfiting from it?

Score: 0

By GS5

edited Sep 26, 2006 - 4:54 PM

Those fukers just want money and M$ is like their piggie bank. Everytime they run out of money they fine M$. Personally I think if anyone is going to fine M$ for 300 million it should be the U.S.A

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 3:36 PM

Delay Vista in Europe 6 months, Microsoft. Or charge them E20 more each, citing regional legal concerns.

Score: 0

By GCoder

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 3:39 PM

Damn, I like that idea. Just charge those whiners 25% more in price citing legal costs.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 5:10 PM

That truly is a good idea!

Score: 0

By GCoder

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 3:30 PM

You EU fux are lucky MS doesn't just give you win98 again and not distribute XP or Vista because you are such pathetic whiners.

Why don't you come up with your own OS if you are so "stick-up-theass" about XP and Vista? You can't? Thats a shame. Go walk off a cliff.

Score: 0

By rickya100

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 4:40 PM

Hey s*** face hows about not calling millions of people fu*ks just cause they happen to live in a country that's part of the EU.

It would be easy for me to call everyone in the US a fat **** who can't even be bothered to get up and take a piss cause they can't leave their Micky Ds triple cheeseburger with extra cheeseburger. But then I know thats not what everyone is like in the US so I don't.

Mind you while I think that some of the s*** that the EU has done, like getting media player striped fromt he OS is no question about it pointless. I do think that it's good that not every country and organisation in the world bends over for MS when they feel like a quicky.

And somehow I don't think MS would even flirt with the Idea of volunterily giving up their world market dominance that they have with Windows.

Score: 0

By phart

edited Sep 26, 2006 - 3:48 PM

Yeah charge them $2.50 more and a packet of chips for MS and help the decline of it market share, there are alternatives

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 3:48 PM

Keep in mind that 90% of the EU court are inbreds and have been for 100's of years.

Score: 0

By kronix2

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 7:24 PM

Hey a******, the European Commission originates from an organisation founded in 1951. This will be hard for you to grasp, but 55 years is a bit less than "100's of years".

Score: 0

By gawd21

edited Sep 26, 2006 - 9:27 PM

You must be a child that know littles to nothing of history and how EU has believed that it was the only way to keep the money in the family was to "keep it in the family".

Score: 0

By spef

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 6:33 PM

I thought we deported all inbreds to "the new world" over the last 500 years. Keeping in mind the comments over here on betanews, i'm not far from the truth.

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 7:00 PM

Not to defend the comment you were replying to, but most of the inbreds were royalty/nobility trying to maintain pure bloodlines; so, they were left behind when the US severed ties. (However, some of the more isolated people in the less densely populated southern regions of the US did have to resort to similar tactics...so really, no one is better off in that regard.)

Score: 0

By spef

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 2:39 AM

You forgot Jewish and Arab inbreeding (not ment anti-semetic or anti-arab at all).

But the case is that i really should stop commenting on comments from people who mention their IQ in their names.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 9:12 PM

That is true, however, in the US they are barely able to brush their teeth let a long be allowed to tell a company what they can and can not do with their own product.

Score: 0

By spef

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 2:24 AM

As long as a company sticks to the laws of the countries in which it wants to sell its products, the inbreds can do whatever they want with it.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Sep 27, 2006 - 1:55 PM

How can it when they make the laws JUST to spite that company?

Score: 0

By alphatrigon

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 6:19 PM

ouch that's harsh...but what if your cousin was all hot and stuff and easy...would ya go for the tard childs? hehe...mmm, sexy cousins

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 8:04 PM

i've heard that this is what they make condoms, paper bags and lobotomies for.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Sep 26, 2006 - 6:32 PM

That is nasty. No, I would never get that hard up.

Score: 0

Jul 18 - 6:18 PM ET Has Google's relentless growth finally stopped?

Jul 18 - 5:48 PM ET IBM software sales help spur 'powerful' $26.8 B quarter

Jul 18 - 5:17 PM ET Zumobi widgets slide on over to BlackBerry

Jul 18 - 5:00 PM ET One admin's missing password leaves San Francisco in a lockdown state

Jul 18 - 4:15 PM ET Nokia readies touch smartphones for release this year

Jul 18 - 4:11 PM ET Another rocky quarter for AMD: More losses, executive shuffle

Jul 18 - 4:06 PM ET Slowing PC market, another online reinvestment ahead for Microsoft

Jul 18 - 3:01 PM ET Rural wireless carriers seek the return of spectrum caps

Jul 18 - 2:34 PM ET Sony to offer 'Graphic Splash' for select Vaio FW notebooks

Jul 18 - 1:01 PM ET What console war? Latest NPD numbers claim everyone wins