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03/24/2004: "Just Business"

The Associated Press reports today from Brussels that "The European Union declared Microsoft Corp. guilty of abusing its "near monopoly" with Windows to foil competitors in other markets and hit the software giant (opens in popup window) with a record $613 million fine Wednesday."

Microsoft shares rose 14 cents to $24.29 in morning trading on the Nasdaq. Gee, how can that happen? Click more.. below.

Well, Cricket, the decision will be appealed to Europe's Court of First Instance, which is expected to take four or five years, during and after which there is a high probability of a settlement. The U.S. case was settled after the appeals court ruling. Worst case is Microsoft pays a fine, which amounts to less than 10 percent of European sales for one year, in order to distribute software that's already in the box to its European customers.

What about changes to Microsoft business practices? The company most likely will ask that much of the ruling -- though not the fine -- be stayed. After all, you can't change software that's in the box, and Europeans want their copies of Windows more than they want to cut an even break to media player developers. But, what.. We'll worry about the rest in four or five years.

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