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Q & A: What the ruling means for Windows users

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Much of the European Commission's investigation of Microsoft focused on relationships between the company and its rivals, as well as the company's influence on market conditions. Here's a rundown on how the issue might affect computer users, if at all:

Q. How will this change Windows?

A. In the United States, there will likely be no effect. The commission's ruling covers the way Microsoft does business in Europe, and the goal of the decision was to expand the software options available to people who buy computers with Windows installed.

Q. Will Europeans get a different version of Windows now?

A. That depends on computer makers, if and when the commission's decision goes into effect. At that point, computer makers will have the option to include a version of Windows that does not have Microsoft Windows Media Player installed. Some could opt to stick with the version of Windows that has the media player, while others might pick the unbundled version and get a media player from one of Microsoft's competitors, such as RealNetworks.

Q. What does this mean if you're a Microsoft shareholder?

A. At this point, very little. The company has $52 billion in the bank, and has been holding on to this cash hoard precisely to pay fines in cases like this. Executives would not say yesterday if the company would issue additional dividends now that the dollar amount of the fine is known.

Needless to say, Microsoft will not be hurting financially after this. The company's share price actually added 26 cents to close at $24.41 yesterday.

Q. When will anyone see changes as a result of the decision?
 
A. Not for a long time, if Microsoft has its way. The company says it will appeal the decision to European courts, which could involve a process that takes five years or so. In addition, Microsoft is planning to ask the courts to delay enforcement of the commission's decision until the appeal is decided.

Q. How will this affect Microsoft's antitrust issues in the U.S.?

A. That's a matter of debate. Some legal experts say that what happens in Europe has little impact on Microsoft's antitrust settlement with the U.S. government. Others say the case could influence the private antitrust lawsuits against the company currently under way, at least in tone.

Sun Microsystems and RealNetworks have filed private antitrust lawsuits, and those have not gone to trial yet. How much impact the European investigation will have in these lawsuits is likely up to judges.

— Kim Peterson

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company