Competition, European Style
The New York Times reports that the European Commission has “ordered Microsoft to disclose secret code in Windows XP needed by rivals to allow them to write programs that work properly with Windows. And it required the company to introduce a second version of Windows XP with its audio and video player removed.�
The European Commission is also reported to be drafting a ruling that will require the world tennis champion Roger Federer to share the secrets of his play with rivals, to enable them, for example, to better integrate their returns with his serves.
In still another development, the European Commission is reported to be contemplating barring the sale of automobiles and other motor vehicles equipped with radios, CD players, or video players. The ruling is held to be necessary to preserve the separate markets of the suppliers of these devices and not allow them to be monopolized by automakers.
Comments (7)
sologue
Professor Reisman, obviously the first is true, but are the second and third sarcasm or fact? It's almost possible to believe they are fact.
Published: September 8, 2006 9:54 PM
Peter
The fact that you can't tell for sure makes his point!
(The second and third are sarcasm, btw)
Published: September 8, 2006 11:26 PM
np
windows xp is a useless operating system and doesn't run properly.
Published: September 9, 2006 9:46 AM
sologue
Right, I see that that was his point. Haha, it's frightening to think that we live in an age where I was even unsure about the veracity of two and three to begin with.
Sort of unrelated, but when I was in Europe in May I noticed at the airport in Torino that the EC/EU had plastered signs everywhere notifying passengers that they were ENTITLED to compensation by the airlines if their flight was delayed X number of hours.
Below this outrageous statement was something like "The EU is working to protect your rights!" In similar fashion, the MTA here in New York City plasters signs all over the subway system with their trademark slogan "Going your way" and all this talk about how they're here to serve the customers.
I've always wondered why state monopolies such as the EC/EU and MTA feel it necessary to "advertise" their usefulness to consumers, as if consumers actually had a choice of providers in the industries/sectors that these monopolies have been established.
Sorry to diverge from the topic at hand, I just remebered all of this when I thought about how ridiculous this competition incident was and how ridiculous the EC has been in other ways I remembered.
Published: September 9, 2006 11:20 AM
Joe Pulcinella
I've been using this type of sarcasm to illustrate the unscalability of government solutions for years. Thanks.
Published: September 9, 2006 2:34 PM
anarkhos
If only the first paragraph were sarcasm.
I wonder how much these lawyers are being paid to tell Microsoft how to write software.
Published: September 9, 2006 5:52 PM
alepuzio
Well, the problem is that the European Antitrust has ordered tyo Microsoft "to disclose secret code in Windows XP needed by rivals to allow them to write programs that work properly with Windows", when in the technical view it's sufficient to publisher the specifics of the software. In this way it's possible to defense the intellectual propriety and allow to people to use in development process the Microsoft's software without have fear for compatibility fo software.
Excuse my english :)
Published: September 11, 2006 11:12 AM