If Bill pull the plug on Europe's access to company's systems then this would be the end of MS . Open source would be everywhere in Europe and this would create a swift paradigm for the rest.

Chris, London/UK, UK

Unfortunately, revenue from EU combined with weak dollar makes paying the fine a cheaper option in the long run. Additionally, Microsoft's business practices were not always favorable back home either but there is little in remediation that can be done in US against a corporate behemoth. It's time, and we hope Microsoft walks with caution, that in the end should only be favorable to the consumer.

JP, Harrow,

Bravo EU, I'm glad that Microsoft will now have to open interoperability between Windows and other non-Microsoft applications and systems.

George, Yorkshire,

Are the EU now policing the rest of the world too?

SO, England,

I would hope that the fine will be used to recompense the companies which have overpaid their royalties, rather than going into the EU's coffers to be spent on who knows what?

David, Manchester, UK

Microsoft should simply lay off an equivalent number of staff in Europe to compensate for any fines such as these. This is a gross infringement on Microsoft's property rights and has nothing whatsoever to do with competition.

Charles Smyth, Belfast, Northern Ireland

P. Robinson I think you are completely wrong! Monopoly regulations are required especially for companies with such dominating positions like Microsoft. The fact that USA is not doing the same as the EU just shows how corrupt their political system is.

Just consider if nothing had been done by either USA or Europe ... pretty soon you could see microsoft not only integrating other pieces of software into their operating system but also completely refuse to integrate software that would compete with their own comercial offers such as Real Media player, OpenOffice, etc...
They are now trying to develop an alternative to flash (Silverlight). Just imagine they would use they dominating position on the OS to bully websites to start using they new technology instead of flash.
You might say that they have the right to do this but in my view this is wrong because their technology is closed to their own OS. Unlike flash you cannot use it in other OS systems such as linux.
Well done EU!

Duarte, Portrush, UK

The case against Microsoft appears to be utterly ridiculous. The specific objections regarding media player bundling and integrating Internet Explorer appear little different to other bundling of features. Microsoft are guilty of shipping too many features? I can't quite see how this serves the consumer. The specific arguments fail upon careful inspection. While many people have anti-Microsoft bias for both valid technical and historical business reasons, this case is embarrassing. I wrote earlier to the European Commission pointing out that other Media Players do exist for Windows and are very successful, co-existing easily. I would have thought this evidence would have made the theory that Microsoft made this task impossible somewhat incredible.The removal of the Media Player in the 'N' version did not serve anyone. It created a 'branch' of Windows that we all tried to avoid. If you don't like Media Player, install WinAmp. If you don't like IE then explore Firefox. It's all possible.

Neil Groves, Harwell, Oxfordshire

I wish I knew what the profit to fine margins are for Microsoft but I would be willing to wager that they have made money from ignoring the EU commission. I doubt that any other company would get away with the flagrant antitrust violations and customer abuses that Microsoft has got away with for so long. Why are Microsoft still in business ? I'm pretty sure no UK business would still be trading a hundredth of the time Microsoft has using these business practices.

Andy, Swansea,

If I had developed a software product and then someone wanted me to give it away just because I had cornered a market I would tell them where to get off. There software works yes its not perfect still has a long way to go. But if we leaves things to go the way they usually do by interfering committes and other companies trying to grab a slice of the action by moaning to the EU then the mess which will occur will not benifit any of us.

bill melsom, salisbury, wiltshire

I dont think it is fair on the businesses such as the ones producing printers, anti-virus software etc to be monopolised by Microsoft and unable to deliver their products to the wider audience. For this reason the Commission has rightly decided to impose further fines on the Microsoft.

Tornike, London, UK

I agree with AWilliams, Cradley Heath.

This is just another example of the unelected and overpaid EU bureaucrats trying to impose even more control over our everyday lives. MS has spent billions on developing their systems, why should they then just hand this technology over to someone else?. MS have become the dominant player in the IT industry purely because individuals, companies and Governments chose to purchase MS products, rather than a competitors. The EU are simply unhappy that a centrally controlled European company cannot compete with the innovative, entrepreneurial and risk taking attitude of major US companies.

The EU needs to grow up and encourage individuals and major companies to invest in, and develop, an alternative to MS. Instead of taking the easy route by legally 'stealing' MS technology.

Pip, Sutton, Surrey

I for once totally DISAGREE with the EU! As much as I support the UK's membership this is just proposterous. This is code and software developed by MICROSOFT, it is theirs - how can we say that they have to help their competitiors to steal profit away from them!!!! It's absolutely ridiculous.

There is no rationale behind this decision whatsoever really - this is the EU going too far!!!

Gary Horlock, Crawley,

John, Bristol:

"Working hard to offer consumers value for money"

Have you seen the price of Vista compared to the USA. Microsoft are working hard to kill the competition so they can bump up there prices more like.

What we need is a credible rival OS System, but Microsoft wont allow that.

Mark, Essex, England

$1.4 billion should keep the EU gravy train running for a few months, but can someone please fine the EU on our behalf for their corruption and lax accounting? Auditors have refused to sign off the EU's financial accounts for 13 years running - in the real world the bosses of a company in such a situation would be facing criminal proceedings.

Chris K, Cheltenham, UK

This is an excellent example of what will happen if we join a Federalist Europe with one European government ruling.
We will have these silly people who have managed somehow to get chosen to hold high office, throwing around all sorts of rulings with the intention of making much money for themselves.
If I was Bill Gates, I would pull out of Europe completely, and sell directly to EU customers from the US and elsewhere.
No consumer cares about this campaign by Kroes against Microsoft, just a couple of companies with influence in Europe.

P.Robinson, Northants, England

I think that Microsoft's Vista locking out EVERY antivirus program on the planet might have something to do with this. Stopping millions of hardware items like printers, modems, and such like items because their software no longer works is probably just a side issue, even if it does cost bilions of other peoples money to rectify.

Dennis, Lundon,

This is nothing but a veiled attack on an company which is successful and therefore hateful. American too..

Since other software companies are supposed to have been hurt by Microsoft practices, of course this `fine` money will now be distributed among them. No? I cannot imagine why? Surely it can`t be the proven corrupt and shameless guzzling EU individuals have found a `legitimate` way to steal some more cash...

Bill Gates, pull out of Europe. You are a Yank. Tell them to get lost... More power to Microsoft. I am an Englishman, and my government has lumbered me with the EU too. Any room for one more over there?

Le Santo, Bath, UK

What a world we live in...
Its thier code they paid alot of programmer's a large wedge of cash to create, what right does the system have to question or fine Microsoft.
If they break copyrights then yes they should pay those that were ripped but saying they cant sell a complete OS is bad for every Windows user.
I believe this is no more than daylight robbery which will probably destroy the user friendly OS Windows provides.
Good Job EC! bring on 2012

J Danger, Coventry, UK

Oh well, more money in the pot for the EU officials to siphon into their back pockets. Vast salary, huge expenses, trips around the world to 'summits' etc. Meanwhile Microsoft are working hard to offer consumers value for money, which is what has made them successful.

Bristol John, Bristol,

Compared to the recent legal judgment that froze $12 billion in Venezuelan assets the Microsoft fine seems quite reasonable.

Gene Diefenbach, Kirkwood, U.S.

The fines go to reducing the contribution EU member states pay to the EU. They don't get added to the EU Budget.

Ryan, London,

The right thing to do but where will the money to pay the fine come from...

1) Bill Gates & MS management/shareholders
2) The customers

Russ Holmes, Glasgow,

So what happens to the money collected from these fines? Anyone know?

pete, brighton, uk

That amount to Mr Bill Gates is probably like paying a vehicle claming fine for the common joe bloggs like myself. It's still bad, but it won't make him homeless.

Mohammed, London, UK

I don't know for sure but I think, if I were Bill Gates, I would pull the plug on Europe's access to my company's systems because I think the the EC is motivated by jealousy of successful businesses. I would soon find out who needed whom most!!

AWilliams, Cradley Heath,

I'm glad the EU is showing companies who's boss! I just wish they'd move to get Britain's prices on par with the rest of Europe a little quicker...

Imran, Birmingham , UK