EU Expected to Lower Boom on Microsoft

BRUSSELS - European Union regulators next Wednesday are expected to force Microsoft Corp. to offer computer makers a version of Windows without its Media Player multimedia software for sale to European consumers. The company most certainly will be handed a huge fine, as well.

Troubles deepen further for Microsoft, which does $32 billion internationally.

Regulators will order it to lay down “clear principles” for future conduct worldwide and find it guilty of illegally abusing a near monopoly of its Windows operating system, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

The five years of investigation and settlement talks and fruitless meetings between chief European antitrust regulator Mario Monti and Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer ended without any mutual resolve.

The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant also is expected to be ordered to release enough new information about Windows to allow rivals Novell Inc. and Microsystems make software that functions in a Windows world.

The EU’s expected decision will go far beyond a 2001 U.S. settlement with Microsoft over its Internet Explorer browser, which let the company continue to integrate the browser with its Windows operating system.

Microsoft has maintained that it should have the right to bundle almost any new product or service with Windows in order to provide increased functionality for its users.

At a news conference Thursday, Monti said that a settlement in the Microsoft case “has not been possible” despite the intense high-level meetings.

“We made substantial progress toward resolving the problems which have arisen in the past, but we were unable to agree on commitments for future conduct,” Monti said.

“[It] is just another step in what could be a long process,” said Microsoft’s general counsel Brad Smith, who noted that it is likely that the company will appeal to the EU’s highest courts.

If Microsoft wins a temporary injunction against the panel’s order, it could avoid having to implement EU conditions until a final court ruling, which could take three to five years.

Dow Jones Newswires said Monti will ask his 19 fellow European commissioners next Wednesday to confirm his finding that Microsoft should be ordered to change its business practices and hit it with a fine that could be up to 10 percent worldwide sales, which would be equivalent to nearly $3 billion. But the fine is expected to be much lower.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Project 2025 Leader Claims Big Tech Companies 'Deliberately Fuel Pornography Addiction' Among Men

Heritage Foundation president and Project 2025 leader Kevin Roberts published on Wednesday the text of a speech in which he persists with his past claim that “predatory Big Tech corporations” are “deliberately fueling pornography addiction” among young men.

FSC Petitions 10th Circuit for Review of Utah AV Dismissal

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) on Wednesday petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to review a decision handed down earlier this month by a three-judge panel of the same appeals court, which denied FSC the right to challenge Utah’s controversial age verification law by suing state officials.

MyAdultAttorney's Corey D. Silverstein to Hold Post-Election Legal Impact Webinar

Industry attorney Corey D. Silverstein will hold a “Legal Impact” webinar titled “We Have a New U.S. President: Legal and Community Implications” on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. PST.

Pornhub Shuts Down Access in Oklahoma Over Age Verification

Aylo began geo-blocking Pornhub across Oklahoma on Tuesday, three days in advance of the state’s new age verification law, SB 1959, taking effect.

Florida Age Verification Law Faces Legal Challenge

Tech industry trade groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) filed a lawsuit Monday challenging Florida’s HB 3, which includes a requirement for adult websites to verify the age of site visitors in the state.

Scotland Pushes Partnership With Anti-Porn Activist Who Thinks Sex Workers Are 'Possessed by the Devil'

A leading sex worker advocacy group in the U.K. reports that the Scottish government has instructed local authorities to partner with controversial Christian charity Azalea, led by a religious anti-porn activist who has stated that sex workers are “possessed by demons.”

#HandsOffMyPorn Campaign Ramps Up Anti-Project 2025 Ads on Barstool Sports, Similar Sites

The digital ad campaign #HandsOffMyPorn will up its spend from $200,000 to $500,000, and run all-new pre-roll spots on male-centric websites like Barstool Sports, GQ, Men's Health and Bleacher Report.

'Daily Caller' Column Condemns 'e-Harlots,' Urges 'Nuking' Porn Sites

In a column published Friday, the Tucker Carlson-founded right-wing news site Daily Caller advocates for the censorship of adult content, using extremely derogatory terms to describe adult creators and calling for “nuking” porn sites to achieve a “complete and total shutdown.”

UK Government Report Downplays Online Safety Act's Potential Impact on Porn Sites

The U.K. government released on Wednesday a new report assessing the likely impact of implementing the provisions of the controversial Online Safety Act (OSA), revealing adult industry concerns that a standalone provision directly targeting porn sites will render their operation in the U.K. “not feasible.”

'European Conservative' Editor Urges Total Porn Ban

One of Europe’s leading right-wing publications, the European Conservative, published an editorial this week claiming that “anti-porn activists have essentially won the public argument that pornography is poisoning our society” and calling for a total porn ban.

Show More