EU group set to recommend against Microsoft
Found on CNet News on Sunday, 14 March 2004
Microsoft has broken European Union antitrust law and must face sanctions, according to a draft decision expected to win endorsement on Monday from an advisory committee of the 15 EU states.
EU regulators have found that the world's biggest software company has refused to halt its violations. Since continuing settlement talks have produced no deal, the ruling sets out detailed plans to impose changes.
First, Microsoft tried to hurt rival makers of audiovisual software by bundling its own Windows Media Player with its ubiquitous operating system, the sources say.
Microsoft says Windows Media Player is an inherent part of the operating system and cannot be stripped out. RealNetworks used demonstrations at an EU hearing to argue it can be.
A player for audio and video is an inherent component of the operating system? That's like saying Windows in an inherent part of computers and cannot be stripped out (I'm sure MS would like to say that). If an audiovisual player is so neccessary for an operating system, then there is something wrong with the software design.