I remember hearing about this story on the news a few months ago. At that time the legal process had not yet been finished as Microsoft was to appeal. However, it seems the legal process is still not over.
It seems that the EU justice system has decided to shaft Microsoft by following in the footsteps of the US justice department.
It may also be that microsoft has become corrupted itself after being constant hammered by the sick politics of "big business" envy worldwide.
Unfortunately, they can't simply retreat to Galt's Gulch in the real world like Rearden did, but are forced to play by the politicians sick rules if they wish to continue to do that which they love to do!!!!!
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Microsoft drops appeal against EU sanctions
David Gow in Brussels
Tuesday January 25, 2005
The Guardian
Microsoft decided yesterday it would not appeal against an EU court ruling forcing it to share some of the secret protocols behind its operating systems with rivals and offer a version of Windows without its Media Player audio-visual software.
The US software group, which was fined a record €497m (£345m) last March by the European Commission in a landmark anti-trust ruling, said it was "working constructively" with the commission on a "full and prompt" implementation of the sanctions imposed by Brussels.
Microsoft, which has been accused of seeking an effective monopoly for its Windows operating system, is keen to reach a negotiated settlement with the EU after paying off the bulk of its litigant rivals but has made no further approach to the commission since its request for talks was rebuffed before Christmas.
It argues that a full-scale hearing will take so long that market developments will render the outcome meaningless and result in a lose-lose situation for the two protagonists. It hopes the European Court of Justice will proceed to a full hearing later this year.
It said: "We remain very optimistic as we move forward in this process and are encouraged that the December court order noted that a number of Microsoft's arguments could provide a basis for overturning the EU's decision."
On December 22 Bo Vesterdorf, president of the Court of First Instance, the EU's second highest court, rejected the software group's appeal against the commission's "interim measures", or sanctions, and ordered it to implement them immediately.
It is understood that rival manufacturers have begun negotiations with Microsoft over the terms, including the fee, of the licences they need to ensure inter-operability with Windows on PCs, but these are far from complete.
The first versions of the operating system without Media Player have been shipped to PC manufacturers such as Dell and should be available in European shops next month at the same price as enabled PCs.
Mr Vesterdorf indicated last month that, prima facie, some of Microsoft's arguments against the commission were "grounded," encouraging it to believe it can win the full case, but the commission believes this is normal at interim hearings and is determined to impose its will on the software group.
It refused to comment yesterday on Microsoft's decision, which came as no surprise, but, amid accusations that the group headed by Bill Gates has been lobbying the Bush administration for retaliatory measures against European firms, it wants to press ahead with the full case. This may not be concluded until 2007 or 2008.
Microsoft argues that Windows without Media Player is "degraded" and will damage both consumers and software manufacturers. The company's backers suggest that Europeans will be forced to pay billions more for PCs.
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