Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2004)
stai 'talk AfORLD |IE BATTALION 11A Thursday, March 25, 2004 ^European Union fines >to Microsoft $613 million, S jrders Windows changes By Paul Geitner THE associated press BRUSSELS, Belgium — ie European Union slapped jcrosoft Corp. with a $613 Hion fine Wednesday for abu- |elv wielding its Windows I ftware monopoly and ordered I actions that go well beyond ltn U.S. antitrust settlement — Gal jilting up what could be another |,gthy court battle. WtiflMicrosoft called the EU’s cision “unwarranted and ill- msidered,” and said it would a judge to suspend the |der pending appeal. The EU antitrust office said sought to alter Microsoft’s Ihavior because its five-year milej j^tigatiGn found that the four J ftware giant tried to squeeze .mi Jimpetitors out of Windows- Jlated markets and “the ille- European Union slaps Microsoft with a $613 million fine The European Union Commission has been pursuing Microsoft on various antitrust charges, with little or no effect on the company's sales or market domination. On Wednesday, the Commission levied financial penalties against the company for the first time. o Major Windows operating system release Aug. 2000 July 1994 March 1998 EU charges EU and U S. EU makes Microsolt of stop Microsoft Microsoft abusing its from charging alter licensing monopoly to computer agreements dominate the makers for with Internet server V conlrac,s every unit sold, service software whether it providers market contains j Microsoft ! software or not WSSSPiii; April 2001 Microsoft agrees to modify European digital cable March 2002 Aug. 2003 Microsoft offers EU offers Microsoft a “last to help rivals' chance” before demanding equipment changes in Windows operate wllh Windows released ftalast | manding 15,10 ws : 0 g|. Microsoft's quarterly sales, In billions of dollars 93 1994 1995 1996 199? 1998 Nov. 1997 EU forces Microsoft to stop charging royalties on a UNIX operating system whether it used Microsoft code or not windows Microsoft market domination Aug. 2001 Jan. 2003 EU charges Microsoft Complaints filed to the with violating antitrust EU charge Windows law by bundling its XP is designed to media player with extend Microsoft's dominance Into new markets Feb. 2004 EU rejects Microsoft offer to include rival media players on discs sold with Windows March 24 EU levies $613 million fine and orders stripped- down version of Windows it dwi Media player market share, Feb. 2004 Real 20 2% QuickTime 9.4% Windows 34.2% ,35 Personal computer operating system market jKg| share. 2002 Windows 93.8% Other 62% Server operating system market .J§pl| share. 2003 Windows 69.3% Linux 12.6% Other 8.7% UNIX 9.4% :reai arch. SOURCES MteroMft. AaaocwMd Pra*«: IPC, Qartna, Dataquasl: NlalMn/Natflatnga r _ behavior is still ongoing.” It gave the company 90 days offer European computer hiscorl anufaCtUrerS a version of nlh ..,; Wows stripped of the compa- t0 J f’s digital media player, soft- 1 are for viewing video and lis licopiei "he $ai! identifo eal ofH ot iden icopter ised Ei charters basedg oductioi to music that is expected |become pivotal in the industry multimedia content becomes lore pervasive. The EU also gave |licrosoft 120 days to release complete and accurate” Iformation to rivals in the ffice server market so their roducts can work more noothly with desktop com puters running Windows. “Microsoft has abused its virtual monopoly power over the PC desktop in Europe,” EU antitrust chief Mario Monti said. “We are simply ensuring that anyone who develops new software has a fair opportunity to compete in the marketplace.” Monti said he limited the order to Europe in deference to regulators in the United States and other countries, but that doing so “will not unduly undermine the effectiveness,” given the size of the European market. Microsoft, which had $32 billion in revenue last NEWS IN BRIEF year, does about 20 percent of its business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Microsoft’s general coun sel, Brad Smith, said he would ask the presiding judge at the European Court of First Instance to stay the order pending appeal — a process that could take years. “The European Commission has the first word, but the European courts have the final word,” he said. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, announcing a new speech server product in San Francisco on Wednesday, did not mention the EU case. The The Best in Adult Entertainment -- Happy Hour Daily until 7pm s 2.00 Well / $ 2.00 Drafts Sun.: $ 2.00 Wells Mon.: $ 1.25 Drafts lues.: 5 3.00 Domestic Longnecks ' Wed.: s 2.00 Wells Thurs.: $ 1.25 Drafts 2 for 1 Cover with Student ID Mon. - Sun. 5pm-2am (979) 690-1478 4075 S Highway 6 ■ take Rock Prairie Road exit Episcopal bishops offer plan to (Conservative dissenters on gays NAVASOTA, Texas (AP)— Episcopal Church leaders [tiave offered a plan to help reconcile the denomina- Ws split over the acceptance of gay clergy, but one pic said the proposal was “dead on arrival." Itie plan was produced in Navasota, Texas, in Response to turmoil over the church's consecration of tsfirst openly gay bishop last year. Canon Kendall Harmon, South Carolina’s delegate n the network steering committee, said the plan is dead on arrival. It doesn’t even come close to rec- 'gnizingthe crisis we face." was 3D1to, lawman’ om neif Tuesite hecte The views of conservative priests and parishioners were not sought before the gathering and several bishops in the network left Navasota in discourage ment before Tuesday's final vote, Harmon said. Florida’s rip currents blamed in 4 deaths last weekend PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Treacherous rip currents along the Florida coast in the past week have killed at least four beachgoers, led to dozens of rescues and forced lifeguards to issue an unpopular warning in the middle of spring break: Stay out of the water. This week’s deaths were all blamed on rip currents, which are rushing channels of water. Better Ingredients • Better Pizza 1 Large ^ 2-Topping ^II and Breadsticks MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY I LARGE I-TOPPING $ C 99 • pu/only 2 MEDIUM 2-TOPPINGS Mi" I Medtum , LARGE 2 LARGE ytoa-Topphy ^i 2-TOPPING 2-TOPPINGS Speoaky P.zza 8. & Breadstick5 & 2 liter drink Medium I-Topping I $ I 0 ^ LX) for only »5.” | I | I LARGE I-TOPPING *8.99 or up to 5 Toppings *11.99 I LARGE I-TOPPING *8.99 or up to 5 Toppings *11.99 Northgate Post Oak Square Center 601 University Dr. 100 Harvey Rd., Suite D 979-846-3600 979-764-7272 Rock Prairie 1700 Rock Prairie 979-680-0508 Sunday: 1 1 a.nm. - midnight Monday - Wednesday: t 1 a.m. - 1 Thursday: 1 1 a.m. - 2 a.m. Friday & Saturday: 1 1 a.m. - 3 a I fhe spring bridal event march 26 & 27 il. widest selection | original designs j exceptional service ! $1 IUI APriADITAC l¥l #% 1C VJ #%. 1C I I 21 BUY ONE MEXICAN PLATTER GET A SECOND HALF-OFF (OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE) incredible prizes Agister to win a variety of prizes including a platinum diamond engagement ring. Make your appointment today! Call 764-8786. cJavioI lARONER'S Jewelers ♦ Gemologists Visit the store at 522 University Drive E. (Between the Suit Club and Audio Video) oil 979-764-8786 for an appointment. O THER DRINK S P E C I A I Q ■ I I Bm mm 1 m, ■ mm lm 1 an mZSZD $ 1 E)©/^[i§iT0(g $ 1 Z&ILO, W[it[L " THURSO AY THANK YOU BIG EVENT VOLUNTEERS Kq 2 O N A Ju| ia and David Gardner truly support volunteerism especially for those of you giving your time to this year's Big Event. David Gardner's invites Big Event Vo| unteers to our Spring Bridal Event. When stopping by the store, be sure t0 ask about the special "Gift with Purchase" for Big Event Volunteers! ^CpRlVV t BAR DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR WEEKEND BRUNCH 520 HARVEY RD. 979-694-4618 o z o n a g r il I, c o m
