Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2013 10:52:24 GMT -8
Today in international tech news: The EU hits Microsoft with a huge fine for the company's failure to comply with an order to offer Web browser options; A conservation group asks Google to nix ads for whale and elephant products on its Japanese shopping site; and France is issuing more and more "strikes" against file-sharers. Tough week for Microsoft.After Denmark announced it was seeking US$1 billion in back taxes from Microsoft, the tech giant was hit with a $731 million fine from the European Union. The fine is for Microsoft's failure to promote a range of Web browsers, not just Internet Explorer. Complaints about Microsoft's favoritism toward IE prompted the EU's 2009 decision that required the inclusion of competitor's browsers in Windows software. Microsoft did just that, introducing a "Browser Choice Screen" in March 2010. Alas, the company dropped that feature in a Windows 7 update, famously claiming a "technical error" was to blame. Microsoft apologized to the EU for its lack of compliance, but that apparently wasn't enough. The fine against Microsoft is being dubbed a message to other tech companies. Indeed, EU Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almunia said he wanted to deter other companies from the "temptation" to back out on agreements. According to EU laws, Microsoft could have been subjected to a fine of 10 percent of its annual global revenue, which would have been more than $7 billion. Not that Microsoft is likely to consider a $731 million fine a blessing, but it equals only 1 percent of Microsoft's 2012 fiscal-year revenues. Microsoft has not yet said whether it will appeal. However, in the name of not antagonizing regulators that already seem irked -- Microsoft last year had to pay $1 billion to the EU after it lost an appeal -- it is expected to accept the ruling.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2013 10:54:02 GMT -8
How did the EU come up with that figure in damages? There are no restrictions as to being able to place a new browser on the PC and it’s really kind of clear that Microsoft isn’t benefiting monetarily from the browser at this point.
|
|