Saturday, March 20, 2004
EU Could Force Microsoft to Unbundle Windows Media Player
Posted by Kent Pribbernow in "NEWS" @ 09:00 AM
"If Microsoft cannot settle an antitrust case brought by European Union regulators, the company may be ordered to remove Windows Media Player as an integrated feature of the dominant Windows operating system, at least for personal computers sold in Europe.
The European Commission also could order Microsoft to include rival media players with Windows to make those products as easy for users to access as Microsoft's own music and video player."
Perhaps I'm wrong, but in my opinion such a ruling would have little overall effect on Microsoft's success in the Media space. Windows Media has already established itself as the dominant format for PC audio and video. WMA is already quickly becoming the standard for online music stores, outside of Apple's ITMS which is more popular. The European Union isn't going to change this fact. If MS is ordered to remove this software from Windows, consumers will simply download it via Windows Update. And God help anyone who finds RealOne player installed on their new PC. Real Networks should be sued for criminal negligence. :roll:
The European Commission also could order Microsoft to include rival media players with Windows to make those products as easy for users to access as Microsoft's own music and video player."
Perhaps I'm wrong, but in my opinion such a ruling would have little overall effect on Microsoft's success in the Media space. Windows Media has already established itself as the dominant format for PC audio and video. WMA is already quickly becoming the standard for online music stores, outside of Apple's ITMS which is more popular. The European Union isn't going to change this fact. If MS is ordered to remove this software from Windows, consumers will simply download it via Windows Update. And God help anyone who finds RealOne player installed on their new PC. Real Networks should be sued for criminal negligence. :roll:
