Microsoft Contests EU Finding

[GHoosdum]

Microsoft has stated that it will contest a recent EU demand to release parts of its OS code to competitors.

Smith complained in a statement that the Commission demand that internal workings of the Windows operating system be documented and licenced to rival server makers "can open the door to the production of clones of parts of the Windows."

"The Commission confuses disclosure of the source code with disclosure of the internals and insists that it will fine the company if it fails to address this," he said.

He added that the Commission had assured an EU court last year that its decision did aim to force Microsoft to disclose the internal working of the Windows.

He said neither the Commission nor an independent trustee had reviewed properly technical documentation sent by the company last week before Thursday's threat of fines.
Source: Reuters (http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyid=2005-12-22T145851Z_01_KNE252128_RTRUKOC_0_US-MICROSOFT-EU-REACTION.xml)

[CyrixInstead]

Why should other people be allowed to clone something you put money into investing and invented?? I don't think software is like other more material things such as vacuums and the like.

~Cyrix

[madmat]

Even patented things like vacuums are protected by said patents and if someone clones it without the purchased rights to do so they will be busted.

I'd read a blurb about this on the [H]ard earlier today and the poster (I believe it was Kyle) said it's about time for M$ to pull their software from the EU and I agree.

I'm sure that if M$ did stop selling their software there completely that the EU would change their tune really quick. :screwed:

[Enverex]

Or rather Piracy levels would increase as well as importing by suppliers...

[GooD]

Enverex had a good point :p

[madmat]

The importing thing is easy to get around, since all the new M$ products have to be activated simply refuse to activate anything with an I.P address that's inside the EU.

Piracy is going to be a problem no matter what they do. The long and short of it is that the pirates will pirate no matter what, the rest will lobby to get the EU governing bodies to pull their collective heads out of their collective sphinters and take a look around.

[Jengo]

i agree with madmat

[Thrax]

I also concur with Madmat. The EU's approach to this matter is absurd.