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Written on 22nd May 2009
1 COMMENT 
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Microsoft has pulled out of their antitrust hearing before the European Commission, claiming they weren’t being given rights to fair trial.
The company was due to present their case against allegations of unfair competition practices for including Internet Explorer by default into Windows.
In a blog post on the company blog titled “Why hold a hearing in the EU if key decision makers are unable to attend?”, Microsoft explained its actions by referencing an important worldwide intergovernmental competition law meeting, the International Competition Network (ICN).
The ICN conference in Zurich, Switzerland clashes dates with Microsoft’s European Commission hearing and
“As a result, it appears that many of the most influential Commission and national competition officials with the greatest interest in our case will be in Zurich and so unable to attend our hearing in Brussels.”
After numerous attempts to change dates, the EU stood firm and refused to reschedule, Microsoft has therefore informed the Commission that they will not be attending.
As a result, the EU will now reportedly make a summary judgement on the case.
You can’t help but feel a little sorry for the software giant.
Written on 14th May 2009
4 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Intel have been fined a record $1.45 billion by the European Union for using unfair sales tactics in the computer chip market.
The fine is a huge victory for Intel’s number one rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) who have sued Intel and urged regulators to review Intel’s pracices globally for a number of years.
“Today’s ruling is an important step toward establishing a truly competitive market. AMD has consistently been a technology innovation leader and we are looking forward to the move from a world in which Intel ruled, to one which is ruled by customers,” said Dirk Meyer, AMD president and chief executive officer.
EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by “deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market.”
“Intel did not compete fairly, frustrating innovation and reducing consumer welfare in the process,” she said.
The commission told Intel to immediately stop some sales practices in Europe, though it wouldn’t say what those were. Intel said it was “mystified” about what it was supposed to change but would comply while it appeals the fine. (more…)
Written on 5th August 2008
4 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Eight members of the European Parliament are pretty fed up with Internet censors like the Chinese government and some obscure dictators. In a proposal for a new European guideline – EU Global Online Freedom Act, representatives from Sweden, Holland, the UK, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Austria, and Germany ask for a black list of countries that can’t stop themselves from censoring web content.
They believe every citizen has the right to publish information and opinions. Whenever their government violates this human right, the EU should punish these countries with export sanctions. Moreover, European tech companies won’t be allowed to supply software and hardware to support censorship practices.
The eight politicians also believe in a pro-active approach. Therefor, they asked for a yearly budget of €20 million to develop software that visualizes and promotes digital human rights.
I’m glad these European representatives make an effort to battle Internet censors. Especially since China, world’s next super power, keeps pumping money in their censorship efforts. China is even paying commenters to say the ‘right’ thing. Many diplomats expect China to start exporting their advanced firewall.
On the other hand, will the EU be brave enough to punish China for censoring online content? In the end, I’m afraid, the economic benefits will rule out the ethical ones. No country can’t afford to ignore, let alone punish, China.
Written on 14th July 2008
3 COMMENTS
David Petherick, Contributing Editor, United Kingdom
Image via WikipediaSocietas Privata Europaea (SPE) is a proposed EU-wide company type designed specifically for small to medium sized companies to operate in EU member countries, which could be enacted as soon as 2009. This is a core part of the Small Business Act for Europe, which the European Commission unveiled at the end of June, based on ten guiding principles and proposing policy actions for both the Commission and Member States.
Here are some of the headlines in what is being planned:
- An SPE formation should be effected within 7 days.
- A cap on obtaining business licences and permits of one month.
- Lower VAT for services supplied locally.
- SMEs can set up their company in the same form, no matter if they do business in their own Member State or in another.
- Cut the administrative burden by 25% by 2012.
The press release begins with the wonderful phrase “a step towards a Europe of entrepreneurs, with less red tape and more red carpet for Europe’s 23 million SMEs“. [English Version] [Dutch Version] A set of Frequently Asked Questions also helps to explain the benefits of this initiative.
The lawyers, accountants, international tax experts, company formation outfits and administrative bureaucrats will hate this, as they have long grown fat from the cumbersome and often antiquated legislation and regulations that small businesses are forced to deal with, often irrespective of their size, and the necessity to follow separate, complex, and expensive company formation rules and registrations in each country. I would not be too surprised to see attempts from these types of organisations to slow down and undermine this initiative, as it of course lessens their role, and reduces the number of intermediaries involved when a company expands and works in more than one country.
However, the European entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow will love this – and it is in the long-term interests of every member nation in Europe to support this type of initiative. This is how one creates the jobs of tomorrow. It is a sad fact that long-term enlightened thinking has not always been a strong point for politicians and entrenched vested interests in Europe, so it is up to enterepreneurs across Europe to applaud, support and spread the word about this initiative.
Written on 23rd May 2008
0 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Who says European politics is boring? I’ve been following the Microsoft/ EU/ European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes soap with great interest. Definite highlights: the 899 million euro fine, Arrington’s emotional and beautifully written reaction – you gotta love the ATM metaphor -, and the almost forbidden Powerpoint presentations. Of course, we’re talking about real money and problems here. But who doesn’t love some juicy details?
Neelie Kroes
Now a new element enters the Kroes-dominated soap: open-source. Microsoft has announced to improve the open-source compatibility of their products, making it easier for users to work together with users of an open-source rival like OpenOffice. This would give consumers a greater choice and ease Kroes’ worries down. Right?
Well here’s the official statement from the European Commission: “The Commission will investigate whether the announced support of ODF (Open Document Format) in Office leads to better interoperability and allows consumers to process and exchange their documents with the software product of their choice.”
I think it’s just a strategic move by Microsoft to distract the EU from the real problem. The average Windows user doesn’t even know what open source is, let alone use a program like OpenOffice. This step by Microsoft is just a way to create the impression of a compromising attitude. Will the EU buy it?
Written on 19th April 2008
0 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
As we reported last week, France is on the verge of adopting a law against “incitement to anorexia” that is mainly focused on the web. It wouldn’t be the last Internet-related law this week, since the European Union announced some tight laws against “incitement to terrorism” on the Internet. By doing this, the EU wants to fight militant groups who amongst other things recruit and mobilize young people.
A statement by the ministers said that the existing Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 will be expanded by introducing three new offenses: “public provocation to commit a terrorist offense, recruitment and training for terrorism.”
Reuters reports that countries like Spain and Italy already punish public provocation to terrorism, but others, like Scandinavian countries will have to change their laws. Spain’s secretary of state for justice, Julio Perez Hernandez, told the press agency that “The battle to anticipate terrorist acts is crucial for Spain. One should not wait for smoke to know there is terrorism.”
Although the statement says that it’s “well-balanced in terms of its effects on freedom of speech and general respect for human rights”, civil action groups will probably ring the alarm bells. Though I’m not sure whether the public will actually care. Europeans have seen so many anti-terrorism laws that limit their freedom already, that they might have become numb for amendments like these.
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