I keep learning that the root cause of all that ails us is "unbridled" capitalism or free markets. Apparently, as evidenced by companies like Wal-Mart and others, providing you more for less is a problem (perhaps not to you, but that’s just details).

Then you have companies provide something completely free, and the problem becomes so big that the only real solution is to levy a 2/3 billion dollar fine and hand over capital assets to the competition.

LUXEMBOURG (AP) – 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.

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."

Alright, so that’s clear enough. Let’s call crucially critical and contextual facts — like: the thing is free; and like: people aren’t obliged to use it — …let’s call those facts irrelevant. Everyone’s just going to nod, figuring these people know what they’re talking about and will go about cheering and chortling a monumental injustice and outright theft.

Get this.

The mood at EU headquarters was one of elation and the court’s decision
was hailed as a big victory for the EU’s competition policy and for
consumer rights.

"The ruling confirms more than ever that Microsoft must comply," said
EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. "I will not tolerate
continued noncompliance."

Get that? "Competition Commissioner." Again, most people are going to look at that and nod, but what they don’t realize is that "competition" is not fundamental to capitalism and freedom; private ownership is, and so what you have here is plain theft of private property under the "good-sounding" banner of "competition." Nice to know what she won’t tolerate.

"The court has confirmed the Commission’s view that consumers are suffering at the hands of Microsoft," she said.

If you can look at the state of the world since about 1987 — the last 20 years — and conclude that the most massive individual empowerment in all of human history amounts to "consumers suffering," then you ought to apply to the EU (or perhaps the Federal Trade Commission, or one of the Consumer Affairs offices at the State level) for a job. The above is a precise blueprint of what they need.

(Coyote)