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Friday 26 March 2004
Microsoft hit by a huge fine
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The European Union Commission has announced it is fining the computer software giant Microsoft and imposing restrictions on its commercial behaviour. The fine is around 600 million dollars. This report from John Moylan. |
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There were few surprises for Microsoft in today's European Commission decision, but the ruling will make grim reading none the less. The record fine Microsoft can probably pay from its petty cash, but the changes demanded in how the company conducts its business will be of much more concern. And at first glance, one of those penalties will hardly delight consumers: the fact that Microsoft will have to strip out its audio-visual software, Media Player, from the Windows operating system. In fact, its rivals argue, that means that the buying public will now be offered a choice of players and not have one imposed upon them instead. Microsoft will appeal against this decision, not least because it establishes precedents that could restrain its ambitions in the future. But critics say there's a clear pattern of behaviour here now that Microsoft has broken competition law on both sides of the Atlantic - a rare, if consistent feat.John Moylan, BBC News, Brussels.
Listen to the words
will make grim reading
will not be very pleasant to read because it contains lots of bad news
record fine
a bigger fine than there has ever been in this type of case
petty cash
a small amount of money that is kept in offices to pay for minor expenses
conducts
does, performs
at first glance
when you first look at it, when you first consider it
delight
make really happy
its rivals
companies that are in a similar business competing for the same customers
the buying public
people who buy a product and affect the commercial success of that product
precedents
legal decisions which could then influence and affect similar cases in the future
pattern of behaviour
a way in which somebody usually behaves or acts
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