Microsoft fine and behaving anti-competitively
From
SemiSkimmed comes this link to a
BBC news item on the European Microsoft fine:
bq. Microsoft must pay almost 500m euros (£331m) to the European Commission for abusing its dominant market position. What will happen to the money?
bq. When it comes time for software giant Microsoft to pay a record anti-competition fine - should their appeal against the decision come to nought - the money, all 497m euros of it, will go into the European Union's general budget.
And where does it go?
bq. Almost half of this is spent on agricultural aid, for subsidising farmers and their produce, and for improving rural development.
bq. The second biggest portion - about one-third - goes on EU funding, which supports the poorer countries in the union. Currently Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece benefit most from this fund.
So 50% of it goes into Ag subsidies? You are fining a company for anti-competitive behavior and taking 50% of your winnings and acting uncompetative...
Posted by DaveH at March 25, 2004 11:27 AM