EU prepares to charge Microsoft over 'technical error' with Windows 7 browser choice - Polidicks

[QUOTE]European Union (EU) regulators are set to charge Microsoft for breaching the terms of a landmark 2009 antitrust settlement by failing to provide a clear choice of web browsers in Windows 7 Service Pack 1, [URL="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/us-microsoft-eu-idUSBRE88Q0DW20120927"]according to a report from [I]Reuters[/I][/URL]. The issue first emerged back in July, when the European Commission (EC) — the EU's executive body — [URL="http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/17/3164313/european-commission-investigation-microsoft-browser-choice/in/2928390"]formally announced its intentions[/URL] to open proceedings against the company. Microsoft [URL="http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/17/3164341/microsoft-technical-error-browser-choice-screen/in/2928390"]admitted the "technical error"[/URL] the same day, emphasizing that it had taken "immediate steps" to correct the problem. "The next step is to open a formal proceeding into the company's breach of an agreement," EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia reportedly told journalists today. "It should not be a long investigation because the company itself explicitly recognized its breach of the agreement." Microsoft [URL="http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/19/3169300/european-commission-confirms-windows-rt-browser-probe/in/2928390"]remains under investigation[/URL] over similar allegations related to its Windows RT system, first brought by rival Mozilla. In a clear sign that it is seeking to avoid further complications, the company recently [URL="http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/10/3307564/windows-8-browser-choice-europe-windows-update"]rolled out an update for Windows 8[/URL] which implements a very prominent browser choice option.[/QUOTE] EU: Bailing itself out one stupid penalty against Microsoft at a time.

If the EU regulators keep fining Microsoft, I wouldn't be too surprised if MS just stops selling in the EU entirely.

[QUOTE=barttool;37817959]EU: Bailing itself out one stupid penalty against Microsoft at a time.[/QUOTE] Well Microsoft earns a fair load of dosh already, [B]AND[/B] have been doing some shady shit in the past. Just waiting for Apple to get a similar lawsuit regarding Safari.

Oh no their os has proprietary software that can be replaced easily. Better fine car makers for having stereos pre-installed while they're at it.

I honestly don't see what the issue it. It's Microsoft's product; they shouldn't have governments getting all up in their grill and telling them what they can include with it. Next thing they'll be getting fined for not allowing users to choose their preferred file explorer

FP cannot damn huge corporations one day, and let them break the law the next day. Microsoft [b]agreed[/b] to do this, and failed to live by their promise.

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818122]FP cannot damn huge corporations one day, and let them break the law the next day. Microsoft [b]agreed[/b] to do this, and failed to live by their promise.[/QUOTE] I know because circumstance and differences in severity don't exist right.

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818122]FP cannot damn huge corporations one day, and let them break the law the next day. Microsoft [b]agreed[/b] to do this, and failed to live by their promise.[/QUOTE] Exactly, though with Apple's growing marketshare, they're probably next on the hit-list.

Grr we can't install chrome ourselves grr! seriously though what the fuck [QUOTE=zakedodead;37818132]I know because circumstance and differences in severity don't exist right.[/QUOTE] umm [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=117899&dateline=1343192220[/img] uses [img]http://facepunch.com/fp/browser/firefox.png[/img]

[QUOTE=zakedodead;37818132]I know because circumstance and differences in severity don't exist right.[/QUOTE] there are no circumstances or differences in severity when it comes to anti-trust laws. when a corporation breaks the law it should be reprimanded just as individuals are. to let Microsoft get away with breaking a promise they made is simply setting a precedent. and the next time it might not be a company you favour.

[QUOTE=J!NX;37818146] umm [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=117899&dateline=1343192220[/img] uses [img]http://facepunch.com/fp/browser/firefox.png[/img][/QUOTE] I don't know what your talking about.

[QUOTE=J!NX;37818146]umm [img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=117899&dateline=1343192220[/img] uses [img]http://facepunch.com/fp/browser/firefox.png[/img][/QUOTE] The Joke Orion cluster Pluto The Curiosity rover Moon cheese Some clouds Roof Your head

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818148]there are no circumstances or differences in severity when it comes to anti-trust laws. when a corporation breaks the law it should be reprimanded just as individuals are. to let Microsoft get away with breaking a promise they made is simply setting a precedent. and the next time it might not be a company you favour.[/QUOTE] I'm not saying that I agree to breaking any laws, I'm saying that this is silly.

[QUOTE=Van-man;37818137]Exactly, though with Apple's growing marketshare, they're probably next on the hit-list.[/QUOTE] not until anti-trust laws start cracking down on patent abuse.

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818122]FP cannot damn huge corporations one day, and let them break the law the next day. Microsoft [b]agreed[/b] to do this, and failed to live by their promise.[/QUOTE] judging the overarching and dominant opinion of a 38,887 members based on five posts in a single thread quality assessment would recommend for future sociological analyses

[QUOTE=zakedodead;37818163]I'm not saying that I agree to breaking any laws, I'm saying that this is silly.[/QUOTE] silly based on what? do you have evidence to support your claim? because laws and the justice system operate based on evidence, not subjective adjectives based on a news post.

It's also about whether or not specific laws are agreed with and what corporations are being damned for. I can damn a company for essentially indulging in slave labour and then argue that Microsoft shouldn't have to abide by a silly law that governs what they can and can not put in their software and be perfectly justified

[QUOTE=Maloof?;37818174]judging the overarching and dominant opinion of a 38,887 members based on five posts in a single thread quality assessment would recommend for future sociological analyses[/QUOTE] except that wasn't a judgement of dominant opinion, that was a statement addressed to all people under the term "FP".

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818164]not until [B]anti-trust laws start cracking down on patent abuse[/B].[/QUOTE] [B] I WANT TO BELIEVE!![/B]

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818185]except that wasn't a judgement of dominant opinion, that was a statement addressed to all people under the term "FP".[/QUOTE] the way it was worded broadcast it as an assessment of dominant opinion there's no way you can argue that it wasn't worded like that

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818176]silly based on what? do you have evidence to support your claim? because laws and the justice system operate based on evidence, not subjective adjectives based on a news post.[/QUOTE]I'm not arguing legality, I'm saying what I think is the best judgement in my eyes. You are not forced to use ie, and ie doesn't cost anything to use, just because you don't advertise your competitors product doesn't mean you are an evil corporation bent on destroying the world and monopolizing.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;37818117]Oh no their os has proprietary software that can be replaced easily. Better fine car makers for having stereos pre-installed while they're at it.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't mind that, if that means they're forced to use standardized 1-DIN or 2-DIN units. and ISO connector. ninja :( [QUOTE=zakedodead;37818197]I'm not arguing legality, I'm saying what I think is the best judgement in my eyes. You are not forced to use ie, and ie doesn't cost anything to use, just because you don't advertise your competitors product doesn't mean you are an evil corporation bent on destroying the world and monopolizing.[/QUOTE] IE is pretty much heavily integrated into windows. [B]THAT'S[/B] why the EU doesn't like them.

[QUOTE=Maloof?;37818180]It's also about whether or not specific laws are agreed with and what corporations are being damned for. I can damn a company for essentially indulging in slave labour and then argue that Microsoft shouldn't have to abide by a silly law that governs what they can and can not put in their software and be perfectly justified[/QUOTE] which silly law? Microsoft agreed to do this so they could settle their anti-trust case. the law is the anti-trust law under which companies will be sued for alleged anti-competitive behavior, Microsoft decided to settle. [editline]27th September 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Maloof?;37818192]the way it was worded broadcast it as an assessment of dominant opinion there's no way you can argue that it wasn't worded like that[/QUOTE] well god forbid you ask me to clarify it, you might have had to waste one of your posts

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818205]which silly law? Microsoft agreed to do this so they could settle their anti-trust case. the law is the anti-trust law under which companies will be sued for alleged anti-competitive behavior, Microsoft decided to settle. [editline]27th September 2012[/editline] well god forbid you ask me to clarify it, you might have had to waste one of your posts[/QUOTE] And I'm saying that it's silly that they were forced to decide to take that action

[QUOTE=Van-man;37818200] IE is pretty much heavily integrated into windows. [B]THAT'S[/B] why the EU doesn't like them.[/QUOTE] But it's purely optional.

[QUOTE=thisispain;37818205] well god forbid you ask me to clarify it, you might have had to waste one of your posts[/QUOTE] Mate I don't know what you're going on about now.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;37818197]I'm not arguing legality, I'm saying what I think is the best judgement in my eyes.[/QUOTE] okay that's fine doesn't mean that Microsoft should break the terms of their settlement. [QUOTE=zakedodead;37818197]You are not forced to use ie, and ie doesn't cost anything to use, just because you don't advertise your competitors product doesn't mean you are an evil corporation bent on destroying the world and monopolizing.[/QUOTE] obviously you don't know anything about the case, it was never about IE. it was about Microsoft going out of its way to make third-party browsers harder to install. [quote]Microsoft's tablet-focused Windows RT operating system only allows third-party browsers in the Metro environment, not the more traditional Classic mode. It's also alleged that users may find it difficult to change the default browser.[/quote] [quote]"by discouraging computer manufacturers (OEMs) by means of payments or withholding payments under marketing programmes from setting third-party browsers as default in Windows 8." Since Microsoft is barred from setting browser requirements or retaliating against manufacturers who use third-party browsers, this allegation could mean Microsoft is doing more than simply favoring Internet Explorer in its software.[/quote] the words IE only show up once at the end. and obviously Microsoft thinks the case has merit, else they wouldn't settle and quickly jump for an apology. [editline]27th September 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Maloof?;37818218]And I'm saying that it's silly that they were forced to decide to take that action[/QUOTE] again, [b]Microsoft agreed to do this[/b]. they weren't forced to do anything.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;37818224]But it's purely optional.[/QUOTE] What, IE? DUde no its not. The "clear choice" gives you the ability to choose, download, install, and make default another browser. It doesn't remove IE. IE is so integrated into windows that you can't remove the directory tree, it literally regens itself. Removing it [I]will[/I] break windows.

I don't see a problem with this at all. If the EU was doing this to Apple you people wouldn't see a problem with it either.

[QUOTE=Cathedral;37818248]I don't see a problem with this at all. If the EU was doing this to Apple you people wouldn't see a problem with it either.[/QUOTE] Microsoft didn't even bother with patents like Apple did. Microsoft just made your computer suck if you used something other than their product.