In recent news, there were the anti-trust policies that were put on Apple’s Itunes for violating competition in Europe. The big debate was whether or not the EU has the rights to do so and did Itunes really violate them. Now a similar case has erupted again but with a similar violator, Apple’s competitor Window’s Microsoft. ( Read Aritcle) The EU Commission states that “it set unreasonably high prices to discourage would-be competitors from making server software.” Microsoft responds with that it will charge for interoperability information because the software is based on its own innovative work and was protected by its patents. In march 2004 the EU already imposed a 497 million euro ($674 million) fine on Microsoft to make it change its ways, now again the EU plans to impose another new fine.
When reading this article, I couldn’t help but wonder, ” Is the EU really trying to promote competition or is it just trying to protect local companies?” By having fines imposed on foreign companies ( both from US) that already compete with one another, it makes it seem as though the EU just wants foreign companies out and upgraded local companies in. Though both companies will assure that consumers receive the best possible services and products, creating jobs and a more desirable product, the EU seems to not see it that way. Sure, local companies should be able to compete but is this really what the consumers (majority) really want?
