Record fines against Intel

Record fines against the chip maker Intel. The European Commission DG competition imposed a fine of 1.06 billion Euro.
Commissioner Kroes: “Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market for computer chips for many years”.

Press release of DG Competition

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MoonOS and LXDE

What is MoonOS? You can compare it with Linux Mint, it is a flavour of Ubuntu with a focus on theming and user appearance from Cambodia:

moonOS is a complete and fully functional operative system based on the LXDE, Enlightenment DR17 and powered by the popular Linux Distribution Ubuntu. moonOS, a project started and designed by the Cambodian artist Chanrithy Thim (12rithy), is perfect for any Desktop, Laptop PC or even for a Virtual Machine.

For the third edition Thim has set inspiring LXDE goals:

# Slim instead GDM in LXDE Edition
# moonSlim the graphic tool for configure Slim
# moonComposite easy to enable composite manager in LXDE Edition
# Use Openbox in LXDE Edition again
# Redesign LXDE Edition desktop

Slim is the Simple Login Manager, hosted by Berlios.

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Bill against ‘hostile behaviour’

Wired about a Cyberbullying law proposal in the land of Free Speech.

(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

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Microsoft IE case erlkönig arguments

The European Union antitrust case against Microsoft for bundling seemed incredibly solid. A bit desperate look the latest defense proposals the New York Times became aware of:

Microsoft will argue against a European Commission proposal that it promote competing browsers in its Windows operating system on the ground that such a move would strengthen its rival Google’s dominance in the global search-advertising market, according to a person with direct knowledge of Microsoft’s legal defense.

Does not look good at all. And here comes the classic:

According to the person, Microsoft will argue that Internet browsing is inseparable from the Windows operating system.

Antitrust defense lawyers or racketeers? Won’t work out. No way. The inseperability argument was tried before, debunked and is well documented and discussed. All antitrust professionals are able to crush it blindfold. The google argument is a legally irrelevant point about a claimed competition effect of a remedy.

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OzoneOs Proof of concept

Vassil Mladjov presents their Blogtronix OzoneOS user interface proof on concept. It obviously plays in the same league as GOS.

Tell us what you think of it and if this would work for you and your clients? Is this too much of a change from what people use these days like the Facebook UI, is this going in the right direction or are we way off here?

What you have to consider is that ergonomy is not about the first 20 seconds. While these components may impress users, they eat screen. When you just have a small screen on a netbook, it should be used.

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Telecommunication package carried with 138

Who did expect that for the second reading in the European Parliament? 2:0 for the internet community. The Trautmann report was carried with the famous amendment know as “138” which had been retabled to plenary by Greens, ALDE,… which is the following:

(fb) applying the principle that no restriction maybe imposed on the fundamental rights and freedoms of end-users without a prior ruling of the judicial authorities, notably in accordance with Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union on freedom of expression and information, save when public security is threatened, in which case the ruling may be subsequent.

A slap in the face of the French government and their attacks on the mere conduit principle of electronic communications. Additionally the “compromise” recital 12 was carried on top:

3a) Recognising that the internet is essential for education and for the practical exercise of freedom of expression and access to information, any restriction imposed on the exercise of these fundamental rights should be in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Concerning these issues, the Commission should start a wide public consultation.

The discussion in Council is not anymore at the level of Coreper but it should be on the agenda of the next Telecom Council after it is translated by the jurists-lingusts. However the Presidency is unable to say when the next Telecom council would take place because they await the designation of the new industry & telecom Minister.

As you will read in the diagramme here : the ball is now in the camp of the Council which can decide to accept all EP amendments, including 138 thus, or to open conciliation. If a conciliation procedure is open, then it is a total new procedure.

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