Oooh, that's gonna sting

[unixronin]

The EU just slapped Microsoft with a 1.35 billion dollar fine for non-compliance with the EU's 2004 antitrust order.  That's going to smart, even for Microsoft.

"Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the Commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision.  I hope that today's decision closes a dark chapter in Microsoft's record of non-compliance with the Commission's March 2004 decision," EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.

This brings Microsoft to a total of over $2.5 billion in fines for violations of the 2004 antitrust order.

Comments

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

Just over 5% of their cash on hand.

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

Fuck the EU. I hope MS just tells them to piss off.

I don't like MS, but I'm more opposed to interference in the market. Not that I expect much better from a bunch of eurotrash socialists.

[johnkzin.livejournal.com]

I doubt MS will flinch. I expect that for this to move forward, the EU will have to do something more drastic than merely imposing fines. Perhaps forceably collecting the fines by intercepting transactions going to/from Microsoft's European offices, or something.