European Coucil Fines Microsoft - US Senators Speak Out
I don’t normally dive into the politics and the law suit side of the Microsoft Business, because it seems like there is something new everyday, but this information really seemed like it was worth sharing. If you haven’t seen the latest on this, you can check out the official Microsoft Statements on the July 12 Fine Announcement by the European Council (EC) at the Microsoft PressPass site (Click Here).
This purpose of my post is to point out some of the quotes from our Senators regarding their viewpoints on the latest ruling, which I’ve posted below. I received this in an email earlier I was really impressed with their support on the issue for Microsoft as well as their concern for how this may effect American corporations ability to compete in the European market.
If you have similar feelings regarding the EC’s latest ruling, I urge you to share your displeasure with your State’s representatives. If you do not know who your State Senator is, you can go to http://www.senate.gov or go to www.house.gov to find your contact in the House of Representatives.
Reichert Displeased by EC Findings against Microsoft
Reichert: “The EC is being irrationally and senselessly punitive.”
Washington, DC – Rep. Dave Reichert (WA-08) issued the following statement in response to the fines announced July 12, 2006, by the European Commission (EC) against Microsoft for allegedly failing to comply with its 2004 competition decision against the company:
“These penalties are beyond reason and should concern anyone who cares about due process and the ability of American companies to compete fairly in Europe and around the world. The final deadline for Microsoft to submit technical documentation to the EC is one week from now. The EC opted instead to terminate that process and find Microsoft in noncompliance without giving the company a chance to make its final filing. If there is a compliance issue at hand it is the EC’s own noncompliance with basic rules of fairness and due process.
“After spending a career in law enforcement, I believe strongly that punishments must fit the crime. Microsoft’s good faith in this process was rendered irrelevant by the premature and excessive fine. The fine imposed by the EC on Microsoft for filing insufficient technical documentation is twenty times as large as the fines it has imposed against companies involved in criminal cartels. Such disproportionate penalties invite the question of whether the EC is more concerned with fighting criminal activity or punishing successful American companies.
"As the Congressman who represents Microsoft, I see the result every day of Microsoft employees' innovation, genius and passion. Not only in my own District, but around the globe, Microsoft has given organizations, governments, industry and individuals the tools to increase productivity, and has spurred extraordinary competition in doing so. It is absurd to punish such success on such meager grounds
“Finally, this case is larger than Microsoft. I will be urging the Department of Justice to communicate its concern to its EC counterparts with the lack of fairness and due process in these proceedings and defend the much more constructive approach our own government has taken. Microsoft already went through this in the U.S. and the program they came up with here is performing very well. The EC is being irrationally and senselessly punitive. If our government doesn’t stand up to defend our economic leaders abroad it will only invite similar treatment of other successful American companies.”
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FRIST COMMENTS ON EUROPEAN COMMISSION RULING AGAINST MICROSOFT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., (R-Tenn.) today made the following statement regarding the European Commission’s announcement of additional fines against Microsoft for its alleged noncompliance with a 2004 ruling requiring the company to provide competitors with information about the Windows operating system:
“The European Commission’s latest decision against Microsoft smacks of anti-Americanism and comes before the deadline has even passed for Microsoft to comply with the Commission’s 2004 ruling.
“Microsoft has attempted to comply with the Commission’s requirements, and imposing such a fine at this juncture simply compounds the already unreasonable demands the Commission has made in this case. The Commission’s conduct regarding Microsoft suggests a broader pattern of anti-competitive, anti-American behavior that will harm American workers and businesses and jeopardize our trading relationship.
“The Commission’s ruling demonstrates a protectionist attitude toward American businesses, and I hope this situation can be resolved fairly before trade relations are severely damaged.”