'Code Licensing Not Enough' Says Antitrust Commission to Microsoft
Paula Cussons
Earthtimes.org
For software giant Microsoft, the European Commission is proving to be a tough nemesis to placate. The company's latest attempt – offering to license its source code to competitors, is not enough, the Commission said.
Earlier this week, Microsoft had offered to release parts of the Windows source code (the programming blueprint); and the more important part of the offer was that it would share more information about the O/S with competitors.
It said it would make available 12,000 pages of documentation and 500 hours of free technical support to other developers.
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See Also
Microsoft Offers Access to Source Code
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According to the 2004 ruling by the antitrust Commission, Microsoft would have to provide detailed technical information that would allow other companies to design and develop products that could work with the ubiquitous Windows operating system and other Microsoft products.
Licensing parts of the Windows source code, in itself, would not be enough for developers that are trying to make interoperable products, competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said. Microsoft rivals are likely to agree that the current offer seems a feeble attempt to appease the Commission.
Jan 29, 2006
Paula Cussons
Earthtimes.org
For software giant Microsoft, the European Commission is proving to be a tough nemesis to placate. The company's latest attempt – offering to license its source code to competitors, is not enough, the Commission said.
Earlier this week, Microsoft had offered to release parts of the Windows source code (the programming blueprint); and the more important part of the offer was that it would share more information about the O/S with competitors.
It said it would make available 12,000 pages of documentation and 500 hours of free technical support to other developers.
___________________
See Also
Microsoft Offers Access to Source Code
___________________
According to the 2004 ruling by the antitrust Commission, Microsoft would have to provide detailed technical information that would allow other companies to design and develop products that could work with the ubiquitous Windows operating system and other Microsoft products.
Licensing parts of the Windows source code, in itself, would not be enough for developers that are trying to make interoperable products, competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said. Microsoft rivals are likely to agree that the current offer seems a feeble attempt to appease the Commission.
Jan 29, 2006
