Residual anger directed toward Microsoft might be driving the European investigation
Published:
21 February 2003 y., Friday
The software giant lost friends in many nations when it instituted Licensing 6, an expensive upgrade program that savaged some IT budgets.
The complaints are essentially the same, but the venue is different. Microsoft is under attack again for leveraging its monopoly and bundling its products, but this time its lines of defense are concentrated on the European front.
The European Union Antitrust Authority has been pursuing an investigation into the software giant's business practices for three years. The case, which had been drawing to a close, gained additional steam recently when a new complaint was fired into the fray by the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a U.S.-based trade group that was disappointed with the outcome of the U.S. antitrust settlement.
In fact, it seems that so far, Europe's antitrust investigation has been more tenacious than the one in the United States. Why is that -- and how much muscle does Europe have to bring down one of the world's most powerful companies? Does Europe hate Microsoft?
That might be too broad an assessment. But Ted Schadler, principal analyst with Forrester Research, told that Microsoft's succeed-at-all-costs mentality might engender more hostility across the Atlantic than it does in the United States. "Microsoft is not as naturally respected in Europe as it is here."
Šaltinis:
ecommercetimes.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Most EU countries continue to meet deadlines for incorporating single market rules into national law, contributing to economic growth and job creation.
more »
Japanese officials unveil their new bullet train, capable of travelling at speeds of 320 km per hour (198 miles per hour).
more »
The first International Security Technology Exhibition, KIPS 2011, will be held on 23-26 February 2011 in Kiev (Ukraine). The motto of the exhibition is ‘There can never be too much security!’
more »
The world's highest restaurant opens in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, located 400 metres above ground in Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower.
more »
The rights of consumers will be clarified and updated, whether they shop at a local store or buy goods on line, under new EU rules as amended by the Internal Market Committee on Tuesday.
more »
MEPs on Wednesday gave their green light for the Council to conclude an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement with Papua New Guinea and Fiji, two countries of the Pacific Region with significant exports to the EU.
more »
Report sets 10 priorities for tackling the bloc's main economic challenges, launching the first ever ‘European semester'.
more »
China's first capsule hotel ready to open its doors in Shanghai, aims to capture slice of booming leisure budget travel market.
more »
Declaration by Michel Barnier on the start of three new authorities for supervision.
more »
On 1 January, Estonia adopted the euro as its official currency and the changeover is running smoothly and according to plan.
more »