Europe is downright determined to reign in antitrust mischief from Microsoft, which can only be called a good thing, as the U.S.'s attempts have been completely ineffective. Today, two new European cases were announced. The first case is in response to a complaint from the European Committee for Interoperable Systems, a Brussels-based trade group of which Opera Software is a member. (Opera also filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft in mid-December.) This new case concerns the interoperability of Windows with other software, the Commission said Monday.
The second investigation is looking into Microsoft's tactic of bundling software products with its Windows operating system. This follows a complaint to the Commission by Opera, a Norwegian browser developer. Stay tuned to Microsoft Subnet for more news on these cases.
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Anti-American, Anti-Business Cry-babies Alive and Well in Europe
These attacks on the legimate property of American businesses are getting more absurd each passing year. Socialist and anti-property rights wackos are running amok in Europe.
Point 1: The interoperability of other software with Windows? How about learning to code, jokers? Microsoft wrote the OS, it's the job of applications programers to learn to write code to work with it, not the other way around. Do you need your livelihood handed to you on a silver platter or do you think you can do some actual work to earn your way?
Point 2: The bundling of "other software" with Windows. Where the heck was Opera in 1995 when IE first hit the scene? Or any other browser than Mozilla, for that matter? Do you see any Notepad or Wordpad or Solitaire or Paint program replacement coders crying a river as deep and wide as the browser and media player coders? No. That's because those other product coders are writing innovative, quality code that can actually beat Windows' included programs. IE is easily and completely replaceable in the OS by third-party products. Buck-up and write some innovate code and BECOME COMPETITIVE. That's what business is about, innovation, marketing, quality, service, and risk. You don't see Chevy or Ford crying about not being allowed to install their engines in Mercedes or Fiat automobiles, do you? Perhaps Mercedes and Fiat cars would be better off with big honking American-built 4.6L SVT motors under their hoods, provide something in Europe some real cojones for a change.
Fiat is not a monopoly
Missing in your argument is monopoly power and the impact of monopolistic abuse. Fiat is not a monopoly. Chevy can cry all they want. Microsoft is a monopoly and they are leveraging that monopoly to run other companies out of many markets. This stiffles innovation and compresses capital.
I'm a former Marine and an American thru and thru. I've started and sold several businesses and have invented many new technologies. I'm pro business absolutely.
I disagree with your categorization of the EU as anti-American. They are doing what America should be doing, but isn't. They are as pro-American as Teddy Roosevelt. They are encouraging free competition so they are pro business too.
Microsoft is anti-American. Microsoft is anti-business.
The American government sits on its hands. For you philosophers, is it possible for American government to be anti-American? The logic seems difficult.... Perhaps campaign contributions play here.