MICROSOFT FINED $1.3 BILLION
"The European Commission has fined Microsoft a record Euro899m (£680m) for failing to comply with sanctions imposed on the company in March 2004, when it was deemed to be abusing its dominant position in the software market. The fine, announced last week, which is the largest lobbied on any business by the Commission, follows a Euro497m penalty paid in 2004 and a Euro280.5m fine paid in 2006, bringing Microsoft's total bill to Euro1.68bn. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement that Microsoft was the only company that had ever ignored sanctions applied as a result of anti-competitive behaviour."
http://short.zen.co.uk/?id=975
Competition is good in all industries and being reliant on one piece of software is really bad for your business. Many companies already use some Linux and Open Source Software (OSS) and this is increasing as more companies realise the benefits. So prepare for the future by ensuring you start using it and training your staff. The alternative is to carry on putting up with a monopoly and sending billions of dollars out of the UK every year. Using OSS, you don't pay for the software, just the support you need and the money helps local people and companies by staying in the country.
Discover Linux
http://discoverlinux.co.uk/geeklog/public_html/article.php/20080302073419171