European Union fines Microsoft

Today’s fine is the largest the EU has ever brought against a single company but it’s really the sum of daily fines running over the past year. EU regulators found during that time Microsoft was not complying with a 2004 Court Order to open up its software to third parties. The EU’s Competition Commissioner announced the finding today in Brussels. The heart of the matter is that Microsoft software is powering about 95% of desktop PCs worldwide. People who develop software want the company to be more open so they can develop products more easily and the EU wants to ensure consumers have as much choice as possible when it comes to software. The Commissioner said she hoped today’s fine would help Microsoft be more open. Don’t hold your breath says this legal counselor who’s fighting for Microsoft to be more open, and that this fine is nothing compared to their overall profits. As far as the EU is concerned, Microsoft has been in compliance lately.