If you think running a business in the US and elsewhere are that different, you might want to reconsider.
Two U.S. software firms are asking the European Commission to take action against Microsoft’s new Vista operating system, the Wall Street Journal reported...
If it hasn't already, this sets an interesting precedent.
This is looking like a case of private companies using the power of government in place of competitive efforts.
Adobe Systems has told EU regulators that Microsoft should be banned from incorporating free competing software for reading and creating electronic documents with Vista, the paper said, quoting people familiar with the situation.
Of course they do. How unfare of Microsoft to be a tough competitor.
Anti-virus software maker Symantec will send officials to Brussels next week to brief journalists about features of Vista that it has told EU regulators will undercut rival makers of computer security software, the paper said.
The duo would talk to journalists. It was not clear if they would also meet European Union officials, European representatives of the U.S. firm said.
Verry nice. I guess I'm more comfortable with this tactic than using the government as a bludgeon.
The Commission, Europe’s top antitrust authority, has expressed concerns about Vista, saying there was a risk Microsoft could foreclose competition in computer security by tying new security features into the system.
Now, I'm not in favor of monopolies or antitrust tactics, but neither am I in favor of short-circuiting the free market system.
Microsoft, which hopes the Commission will not require removal of security features in Europe, has said the product is on course for a public launch in January.
The Commission and Microsoft have been at odds for a couple of years now. But this is the most amazing thing in the article.
The Commission levied a record $630 million (497 million euros) fine which Microsoft has challenged.
In July, EU regulators fined the company a further 280.5 million euros for defying the ruling, which required it to share information on its servers with rivals.
They required Microsoft to share its information with competitors. Ridiculous. Imagine you having to share what makes your business unique with your competition. Amazing.
Government running around unchecked is the death of more businesses than we may ever know.
Sad.
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