Microsoft $1.35B poorer

Yeah, I almost forgot to link right to thearticle from Reuters about the EU fining Microsoft $1.35 BILLION USD (899 million euros).

Microsoft’s monopolistic business practices are costing it billions of dollars.

IDEA:
Actually be open. Open up all of your protocols, specifications, APIs. Even start opening up some of your source code, under GPLv3, and assigning patents to the Patent Commons.

Believe it or not, your sales will go up. Maybe then Bill can donate the next $1B in fines to some starving kids who need laptops.

Seriously though, if I could get Windows Server under GPLv3, and do whatever I want - fork it, whatever, I might buy a copy. I’m sure a lot of people would if they realized that they could change it, wouldn’t get locked in, etc.