Should Microsoft be fined the 2.5 Million dollars a day from the EU?

Question

or should they be allowed to dis-obey anti-trust laws around the world?

Answer 1

There's two parts to this answer:

The EU has the right to impose fines on corporations it feels are violating its anti-trust laws. If Microsoft doesn't want to pay, then they can just forego selling their products in the EU (and subsequently, let other people smuggle it in). The EU has the authority to regulate commerce (with certain prescribed limits) within its member states. Microsoft has the right to appeal EU rulings within the framework of the EU (which I believe they have tried and have failed at producing a favorable result)

In the little world called common sense and reality, however, I really don't see the point of fining Microsoft. Like it or not, they control ~90% of the OS market and regardless what critics say, it's not b/c they have some inferior product and are maliciously forcing us to buy it. For all its quirks and bugs, I find it to be more usable and easier to deal with than anything from the competitors. If you really can't stand Windows, you can go get yourself something from Apple, Inc. (not "Apple Computers" anymore, though, since they've dropped that name) or go and run Linux. And trying to compel a company to give away it's prized proprietary code is pretty unrealistic.

And, in my personal opinion, since Apple controls 75% of the portable music market (and is a monopoly in that area just as Microsoft is in OS's), the EU should start fining them a million or so everday until they release proprietary information on their MP4 format and iTunes/iPod so that competitors can have a more level playing field.

Or, we can just face that some companies are better at producing certain things than other companies.

Answer 2

Well, that depends. Are the anti-trust laws corrupt? If so, then it's time they changed and Microsoft shouldn't pay.... That's really a decision of economic policy. Quite frankly, I don't know enough about the situation to make a decision on it. However, I am inclined to say they shouldn't have to pay.

Answer 3

I do not think they should have to hand over trade secrets and technology that allows them to be competitive and profitable. Microsoft is an American company and it is protected under American law.