EU says it'll believe Microsoft is going open when it sees it

Echoing the reactions of many to Microsoft's decision to open things up this morning, the European Commission issued a statement this morning saying that while it welcomes any moves towards "genuine interoperability," it's not going to believe it until it sees it -- it's counted four similar announcements by Redmond in the past, with nothing to show for it. Of course, Microsoft is currently being investigated for antitrust violations in Europe, so there's a whispered belief that the new steps are a ploy to derail that process, but that's pretty doubtful -- and the EU's not having it anyway, saying that "Today's announcement by Microsoft does not address the tying allegations." For its part, Microsoft actually agrees, saying that it's opening things up on its own -- the move reflects both "the reality of our unique legal situation" as well as "new opportunities and risks in the connected world." That's certainly an interesting approach -- but we'll see how the EU reacts if and when Microsoft follows through on these promises.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Feb 21st 2008 5:18PM]

I myself would like open XP because I really don't like vista.

[E71 @ Feb 21st 2008 8:22PM]

The EU can suck it.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Feb 21st 2008 9:01PM]

I actually agree with the EU. I don't really trust microsoft, after their habit of making amazing promises but only completing a tenth of it.

[bob sakamano @ Feb 21st 2008 5:19PM]

they better go opensource! or else buying http://www.micropensoft.com was a waste of my 6 dollars!

Where is Nilay to tell me if it was legal advice or not?!?

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Feb 21st 2008 7:26PM]

OOOOO!!! Bid!!! 10.50!

[Shadow08 @ Feb 26th 2008 4:40PM]

I'd hate to break it to you, but they wouldn't pay you for that domain. Instead, they would legally threaten you and give you the option to be reimbursed for you $6.

Anyone remember www.mikerowesoft.com? That was the person's NAME and they still took the domain from him!

[Rik @ Feb 22nd 2008 1:52AM]

ReactOS FTW! :-D

[bob sakamano @ Feb 21st 2008 5:21PM]

ps... i made it a redirect to my site... im not trying to spam!! don't block my commenting! i cant live without it

[jared Rada @ Feb 21st 2008 5:23PM]

oh, someone cares about the EU? my bad !

[dcny @ Feb 21st 2008 5:23PM]

I just wanna see them open any os 3.1 95, 98 , 2000 , nt , xp whatever yall can even open up bob i just wanna see it done

[bob @ Feb 21st 2008 8:54PM]

Hey! I don't want to be opened up! Especially by Gates with you watching!

[Todd @ Feb 21st 2008 5:30PM]

As seen from my RSS reader, this post make Microsoft and the EU sound like some bickering couple on the Jetty Springer show.

EU: Aw hells no, you did not just say that!
Microsoft: Oh common boo, I'm tellin' ya straight.
EU: Oh no you diddant just say you gonna open up.
Microsoft: For reals boo, for reals.

[LordJohnWhorfin @ Feb 21st 2008 5:37PM]

For *ITS* part. I'm used to better proofreading from Engadget editors.

[Stevo @ Feb 21st 2008 8:18PM]

I'm not.

[Zak @ Feb 21st 2008 5:43PM]

Honestly, every time I see that Micropensoft logo, I think it says Micrepeensoft for a second. Don't know why.

[bob sakamano @ Feb 21st 2008 5:44PM]

me too

[Danger mouse @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:36AM]

Micro penis soft

[blarvh @ Feb 22nd 2008 8:56AM]

That wasn't the joke?

[Neal @ Feb 21st 2008 6:01PM]

Of course they are pessimistic - they would be losing their cash cow and a large source of income :)

[Eric @ Feb 21st 2008 10:21PM]

No kidding. They get so concerned about MS, get a couple hundred million dollars, and then a year or two later they do the same thing.

[Sam Zebian @ Feb 21st 2008 6:02PM]

Hey, about the logo, shouldn't it look like this-
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1034/micropensoftve3.jpg

???

[dave @ Feb 21st 2008 6:04PM]

Uhh...

http://www.microsoft.com/interop/docs/officebinaryformats.mspx

Someone remind me what the definition of 'open' is?

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 21st 2008 9:16PM]

Microsoft's definition, or the real one?

[tcardone05 @ Feb 21st 2008 6:07PM]

You mean the EU that has sued MS because they bundle free apps with Windows?

[Josh L @ Feb 21st 2008 6:10PM]

"...it's counted four similar announcements by Redmond in the past, with nothing to show for it."

Um, Mono anyone?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_%28software%29

[Nathan M @ Feb 21st 2008 6:14PM]

I thought mono was done by a third-party, but I might be wrong.

[Joe_Templeman @ Feb 21st 2008 7:20PM]

yeah it was a Novell project

[sfotoord @ Feb 21st 2008 8:37PM]

Good old EU...busy flexing its muscles.

[bob @ Feb 21st 2008 8:55PM]

Give me my 95 for free, please.

[soulblade @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:37AM]

Open Source XP + DX10 = Gaming XPerience > Vista Experience :D

[Andre @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:06AM]

No joke, I'd be pretty happy with that one. If only there were drivers more easily available for my laptop.

[ktchong @ Mar 5th 2008 2:31AM]

I find it troubling that a government can force a company into adopting "open source" when open source is competing with proprietary source.

The EU government is basically enforcing open source model over proprietary source model. Communist much?