Microsoft loses appeal of judgement in EU

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yousuf Khan
  • Start date Start date
MS will have to pay $690M to the EU for non-compliance of their previous
judgement (will MS even notice such piddly amounts?). This could set a
precedent for similar cases before the EU, like the one against Intel.
Click to expand...

If you believe $690M is a piddling amount, why do you think Intel
would care about equivalent piddling amounts?
 
krw said:
If you believe $690M is a piddling amount, why do you think Intel
would care about equivalent piddling amounts?
Click to expand...

M$ is more cash rich, and in a less capital intensive business.
 
M$ is more cash rich, and in a less capital intensive business.
Click to expand...

So why would you believe a slap on the wrist, if you believe $69M is
(to M$), would hurt Intel any more than M$?
 
krw said:
So why would you believe a slap on the wrist, if you
believe $69M is (to M$), would hurt Intel any more than M$?
Click to expand...

It wouldn't, of course. However, Intel and MSFT appear to
have totally different ethics wrt DoJ and legal compliance:
Intel may push the line, but when caught over will make
reasonable efforts to stop.

MSFT does not and appears to treat it all as a big game.
They do not appear to understand the purpose and method of law
is deterrence and that the authorities have legitimacy. Perhaps
the corruptibility and other buffoonery of the legislators and
bureaucrats leads them to wishful thinking the purpose and system
itself is contemptible since some individuals are.

Regardless, both are quintessentially criminal mindsets
and rationalizations and earn MSFT the "evil" sobriquet.
And when deterrence totally fails, the big guns [breakup]
come out. Maybe they do and just don't care for the long-term.
That too is criminal hallmark, but not uniquely so.

-- Robert
 
If you believe $690M is a piddling amount, why do you think Intel
would care about equivalent piddling amounts?
Click to expand...

Because in the case of Intel, they're talking about billions of
dollars, since the fine can be upto 10% of their annual revenue. Now
whether they're actually going to fine them that much, we don't know,
but until there is a ruling issued, the potential fines can be
billions of dollars.

BBC NEWS | Business | EU outlines Intel 'market abuse'
"Regulators have the power to fine Intel up to 10% of annual turnover
if they find it guilty of stifling competition."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6918975.stm
 
^ a '0' slipped down between the keys, somewhere
It wouldn't, of course. However, Intel and MSFT appear to
have totally different ethics wrt DoJ and legal compliance:
Intel may push the line, but when caught over will make
reasonable efforts to stop.

MSFT does not and appears to treat it all as a big game.
They do not appear to understand the purpose and method of law
is deterrence and that the authorities have legitimacy. Perhaps
the corruptibility and other buffoonery of the legislators and
bureaucrats leads them to wishful thinking the purpose and system
itself is contemptible since some individuals are.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you're trying to argue with me or not; the attempt
failed. ;-)

I agree, which is why I don't believe a huge fine is in order (for
Intel). Money isn't a disincentive for the M$ boys either.
Regardless, both are quintessentially criminal mindsets
and rationalizations and earn MSFT the "evil" sobriquet.
And when deterrence totally fails, the big guns [breakup]
come out. Maybe they do and just don't care for the long-term.
That too is criminal hallmark, but not uniquely so.
Click to expand...

I don't think even a breakup could alter their mindset, indeed it may
let it loose. The worst thing might be to let the castle rot from
within and crumble under its own weight. Vista seems to be a giant
step in that direction.
 
Because in the case of Intel, they're talking about billions of
dollars, since the fine can be upto 10% of their annual revenue. Now
whether they're actually going to fine them that much, we don't know,
but until there is a ruling issued, the potential fines can be
billions of dollars.
Click to expand...

It'll never happen. M$ has done far worse things than Intel and has
been caught (and released) many times.
BBC NEWS | Business | EU outlines Intel 'market abuse'
"Regulators have the power to fine Intel up to 10% of annual turnover
if they find it guilty of stifling competition."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6918975.stm
Click to expand...

Sorry, I'm not buying. Even the EU isn't that brain-dead.
 
krw said:
I don't know if you're trying to argue with me or not;
the attempt failed. ;-)
Click to expand...

Darn! USENET privileges and rewards argument :)
I don't think even a breakup could alter their mindset,
indeed it may let it loose. The worst thing might be to let
the castle rot from within and crumble under its own weight.
Vista seems to be a giant step in that direction.
Click to expand...

Agreed! (darn again:) MS causes itself far more damage
than anyone else could. While the [slow] collapse is
coming, leaving the rapacity unchecked encourages others.

-- Robert
 
krw said:
It'll never happen. M$ has done far worse things than Intel and has
been caught (and released) many times.


Sorry, I'm not buying. Even the EU isn't that brain-dead.
Click to expand...


I don't think the EU is going to charge it that much either. However I
think it might be far worse for Intel, it may have to have its contracts
inspected by the EU from that point forwards. And it will have an AMD
civil suit in Europe which would likely introduce all of the evidence
from the anti-trust ruling. That's what's happening in Japan at this moment.

Yousuf Khan
 
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