Tech Companies Back EU in Microsoft Fight

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6 April 2005 | AP

[ShadowAce]

Five leading technology companies are supporting European Union regulators in their legal battle with Microsoft Corp., a lawyer for the group said Wednesday.

International Business Machines Corp., Oracle Corp., Red Hat Inc., RealNetworks Inc. and Nokia Corp. have applied to intervene against Microsoft in its court appeal of last year's EU antitrust ruling, lawyer Thomas Vinje said.

Vinje said the companies' stance countered Microsoft claims that the European Commission's case was without industry support.

[ShadowAce]

[Psycho_Bunny]

The regulators also ordered Microsoft to produce a Windows version minus its multimedia player to provide a more level playing field for competitors such as RealNetworks Inc.

Windows Media Player is nothing to sing home about but calling Real Player a viable competitor to Media Player is like saying that Tonka is up against Peterbilt.

[ShadowAce]

This is all just to get at MS, in my opinion. I agree that Media player and other applications are tied too tightly into the OS, and the EU has a right to dictate what can and can't be sold in the EU--just like any government.

This does sound like opportunism, though.

[timtoews5292004]

Hmm. Two companies that are pushing linux (red hat and IBM), and have something to gain by Microsoft's woes, standing behind a EU decision to put the screws to Microsoft? Shocking!!!

[DustyMoment]

This is nonsense. None of these companies are objective, third-party reviewers so of course they are going to engage in Microsoft-bashing.

Windows may not be the best product on the market, neither was VHS (in the comparable VHS/Beta wars). But Windows is the product that most computer users are comfortable with. IBM really doesn't have a dog in this fight since they just sold their PC division to China, so I don't know why they care.

I also agree with the previous poster's comment about RealNetworks. IMO, it's six of one and a half-dozen of another between Media Player and RealNetworks.

The Linux/Windows issue is the only real isue and it basically comes down to what the user feels comfortable using. Most are comfortable using Windows since it is compatible with more applications.

In my mind, however, it boils down to this: Should a Chevy be required to accommodate Ford, Chrysler or Toyota parts? That's what we are trying to do with Microsoft.

[antiRepublicrat]

Nokia also, because it has an interest in Symbian getting popular for phones instead of Windows.

[trebb]

MediaPlayer has the ability to talk to Microsoft, but RealPlayer is spyware...

[Dallas59]

Sounds like Marxism to me. Instead of bashing MS, they need to DEVELOP a better OS and compete!

[Dallas59]

Ever tried 321? Plays real media in windows classic. Under "Real Alternative 1.34"

Real Alternative 1.34

[roaddog727]

"Instead of bashing MS, they need to DEVELOP a better OS and compete!"

Bingo!

Gold star award

[antiRepublicrat]

IBM really doesn't have a dog in this fight since they just sold their PC division to China, so I don't know why they care.

Because they do a lot with Linux, a competing server operating system, and much of this case is about Microsoft's illegal attempt to leverage its desktop monopoly to get into the server market through limited interoperation with other platforms.

In my mind, however, it boils down to this: Should a Chevy be required to accommodate Ford, Chrysler or Toyota parts?

You wouldn't believe how many parts in different brands of cars are the same. I know someone who works in the shipping business, and Mazda (IIRC) was running out of some assembly dealing with the lights, and the manufacturer couldn't immediately ship enough, several thousand I think, to keep production going. She scoured the world for the parts, and eventually arranged for Volkswagen to air-freight them the parts from their warehouse because they were the exact same thing.

[antiRepublicrat]

Instead of bashing MS, they need to DEVELOP a better OS and compete!

They did for phones. It's called Symbian.

[Bush2000]

...EU has a right to dictate what can and can't be sold in the EU--just like any government...

Rrrrrrright. Like it's okay for the EU to promote and extend Airbus as a fully-subsidized monopoly against Boeing, which has to actually compete for contracts. No sale, dude. The EU Antitrust Council is nothing more than a racketeering operation. They favor European countries over foreigners. There's no such thing as fair play in Europe. They're a bunch of scam artists -- and it's the only way that they can support their failing socialist regimes...

[Bush2000]

Because they do a lot with Linux, a competing server operating system, and much of this case is about Microsoft's illegal attempt to leverage its desktop monopoly to get into the server market through limited interoperation with other platforms.

Non-sequitor. There's no evidence that desktop-server protocol interoperation is giving MS any kind of advantage in servers.

[trebb]

I've seen the alternatives, but haven't tried them yet - I take it you would recommend it?

[ShadowAce]

They favor European countries over foreigners.

Just like we should be favoring American companies over foreign ones. But we don't.

There's no such thing as fair play in Europe.

Life isn't fair. Get over it.

[DustyMoment]

Interesting information. Thanks for the reply.

[antiRepublicrat]

There's no evidence that desktop-server protocol interoperation is giving MS any kind of advantage in servers.

You haven't read the decision, have you? Check it out (PDF).

[amigatec]

I guess everybody forgets how MS leveraged Windows over OS/2 with IBM.

IBM has every right to demand a little pay-back.