The long-running tale of Microsoft
Of course, we've seen similar hopes before. In March of last year, the European Commission (EC) ordered Microsoft to pay a fine of nearly 500 million Euro, release a version of Windows without the Media Center software, and share other operating-system information with competitors. Since June, 2004, the firm has continued its squabble with the Europeans, while at the same time saying that it would abide by the ruling, or some version of it.
In the meantime, competitors like IBM
The devil, of course, is in the details. What needs to be shared? How will the licensing work? What do you call the thing? (Yet another recent blowup came when the EU refused to let Microsoft call it "Windows XP Reduced Media Edition." Yes, truth is one of the first things to go in the EU's banana republic.)
It may make no sense -- especially the Media Player charges, since Apple's
For related Foolishness:
- Microsoft's got lots of creepy-crawlies.
- The EU is a banana republic.
- Microsoft's punishment has been delayed.
- Mr. Softy strikes back.
- Microsoft and the EU continue their scrapping.
- The EU makes its move.
Seth Jayson finds European economic policy to be quite odd. At the time of publication, he had positions in no firm mentioned. View his stock holdings and Fool profile here. Fool rules are here.