Good to see how far the EU has come in the way of capitalism and the free market. It’ll now force Microsoft to pay a $613 million fine, share its code with its competitors and sell Microsoft’s operating system without the media player. Never mind the fact that Microsoft payed for all of the research and development for the codes, and now must share them with its own competitors.

Microsoft lost its appeal of a European antitrust order Monday that obliges the technology giant to share communications code with rivals, sell a copy of Windows without Media Player and pay a $613 million fine – the largest ever by EU regulators.

The EU Court of First Instance ruled against Microsoft on both parts of the case, saying the European Commission was correct in concluding that Microsoft was guilty of monopoly abuse in trying to use its power over desktop computers to muscle into server software.

Earth to the EU: Simply because you’re the only company that’s developed the software and you sell one version of the product, doesn’t make you a monopoly. If I develop software, write the code, and sell one standard version of it, am I a monopoly is others decide not to do the same? I should have to share my hard and expensive work with others?

You’ll love this:

It also said regulators had clearly demonstrated that selling media software with Windows had damaged rivals.

“The court observes that it is beyond dispute that in consequence of the tying consumers are unable to acquire the Windows operating system without simultaneously acquiring Windows Media Player,” it said.

“In that regard, the court considers that neither the fact that Microsoft does not charge a separate price for Windows Media Player nor the fact that consumers are not obliged to use that Media Player is irrelevant.”

Eh? Of course a company selling a great software that’s wanted for use is damaging to rivals. That’s kind of how business works. You create something everyone wants, you sell it, you make money, and your rivals suffer. The fact that the company charges nothing more for the software and you can decide not to use it, is irrelevant? Why? Because the user didn’t ask for it? By that same logic, pop ups and ads should be blocked because I went to the site for the content – not the ads.

Again, glad to see how far the EU has come in free market and capitalism. The EU has been nothing but an assethole.