So does this ruling apply to French farmers? Can we expect a lawsuit against the French farming industry brought by African farmers? And how do you think the EU will rule then? After all African farmers are unlikely to afford the same sorts of cozy lunches and hotels for EU members that companies like Sun and Real Time can afford...

Inna Tysoe, Sacramento, CA/USA

These giants kill innovation and their fund managers dictate technology use and development. The Commission's action is laudible and will set a good example for business practices.
In the long run Eu is set to benefit from this.

maddy, mumbai, india

I think that Microsoft, as a company, produces a product that they have the right to sell for any amount that they choose. Nobody can dictate prices to them except to say that they have to sell above cost. There is no upper limit to what they could theoretically sell Windows for, whatever its configuration. I have been reading through the list on Google News and it appears that the price difference between versions with and without Windows Media Player is negligible. Microsoft has been giving the player away with their OS. Those who have the technological savvy to get RealPlayer can get RealPlayer and those who do not have a way to play their CDs and organize their music. RealPlayer is available for free online for those who want it. Having a media player pre-installed is very convenient for "technophobes" i.e. people who are less technologically savvy than Simon, like, say, my Grandmother. Microsoft is not taking away anyone's free choice. Microsoft is giving away software. Applause?

John , Bethany, Oklahoma

It's way beyond time for enforcing open standards, open protocols and open source.

IT is no longer a toolset for business - it is the only way to do business.

One business cannot be able to control all other businesses with proprietary standards, closed protocols and hidden source - it's anti-competitive.

Strong copyright protection, continued blocking of software patents in Europe and open community development will drive innovation far beyond anything witnessed before.

The future is simply open - and an open Europe will be primely positioned in the future...

Lloyd Hardy, Cork, Ireland

Finally, Micro$oft will have to stop encoding their documents in a way that makes import/export impossible.

Not only that, but everyone is on to their "proprietry" lock-in game.

Before now, techies were the only ones complaining about it...

It's not that I want to see Microsoft tumble, I just feel that they aren't willing to genuinely compete in a genuine manner and they tend to rely on the technophobia of most users...

simon, Oxford, UK