Microsoft fined €497 million

AS EXPECTED, the European Union fined software giant Microsoft €497 million and also issued a number of other demands.

It wants Microsoft to show us its code, and also has ordered it to make a separate version of Windows unbundling its Media Player, which is thoroughly embedded in Windows XP.

The Vole has 90 days to comply with its order, while it has 120 days to show us its code, but Microsoft is expected to go for an injunction to prevent the sanctions happening.

It could take years of appeals before anything happens to Microsoft.

In a prepared statement, the EU "competition commissar" Mario Monti said that large companies have a duty to make sure that they don't stifle competition.

Funny. We thought the idea of a monopoly was to get hotels on Mayfair and Park Lane and win. µ