Microsoft given 8 days to release protocol information

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-11-17 12:50am

Microsoft continues to earn the ire of the EU. The constant back and forth has seen promises of change from the company, hundreds of millions dollars demanded in fines, threats of more fines and threats of software lockouts. Now, Microsoft has 8 days to come into compliance with the EU's requirements to hand over protocol information to their competitors, in the interest of a stable market.

The biggest contention here is Microsoft's built-in incompatibility with other technologies, which, for better or for worse, influences people's buying decisions. Though they threatened to delay Vista or perhaps even refuse releasing it in some areas of the EU, they quickly backed down from that and supposedly will offer more “region-customized” distributions. That isn't enough to satisfy the EU, who want to see 3rd parties be given the information they need to create competing software using various ubiquitous Microsoft protocols. If the 8 days expires and nothing has been done, more fines will be added to the already 777.5 Million Euro tab.

Techspot

Chris OFarrell · Post by **Chris OFarrell** » 2006-11-17 02:00am

What specifically are they talking about?

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-11-17 06:49am

Chris OFarrell wrote:What specifically are they talking about?

Percisely, what do they want? Protocols of what?

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2006-11-17 09:59am

Apparently, "workgroup servers", whatever that means. Sounds like Exchange, Sharepoint, various multimedia stuff (because the original ruling was mostly about the multimedia market), print and file servers etc. Protocols is also used synonymously with APIs.

There is a number of articles over on Ars on entire fiasco, but I've yet to find one which spells out exactly what is wanted. I'm pretty sure Microsoft has a very good idea at this point however.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-11-17 10:12am

mmar wrote:Apparently, "workgroup servers", whatever that means. Sounds like Exchange, Sharepoint, various multimedia stuff (because the original ruling was mostly about the multimedia market), print and file servers etc. Protocols is also used synonymously with APIs.

There is a number of articles over on Ars on entire fiasco, but I've yet to find one which spells out exactly what is wanted. I'm pretty sure Microsoft has a very good idea at this point however.

I.E they want the APIs for Exchange and Sharepoint?

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2006-11-17 12:30pm

The EU also wants the file formats. Fines are at $775M and increasing.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-11-17 12:48pm

Maybe it's like asking for a file that doesn't exist. That way, they know MS can't do squat and they get to ream their arse for more cash anyway.

Brilliant!

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2006-11-17 01:20pm

Well, it works out like that in practice, but I don't think the intent is there. Going by Ars again (sorry for not digging up the link, don't have the time ATM) the documentation they did provide turned out to be so atrocious that they then offered to provide the source code, which wasn't accepted. Now they are being forced to polish up the documentation required.

Note that this is about the documentation, not any file or capability (at least as I understand it).