Will the Commission's ruling on Microsoft benefit consumers?

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After the EU's record fine against Microsoft, the debate now focuses on 
the benefits to consumers and the impact of the ruling on innovation. 
The US department of Justice expressed scepticism.

http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/1?204&OIDN=1507433&-tt=

[excerpt]
It has therefore imposed the following remedies on Microsoft:
- interoperability:
The EU regulatory authority requires that Microsoft, within 120 days, 
discloses "complete and accurate interface documentation which would 
allow non-Microsoft work group servers to achieve full interoperability 
with Windows PCs and servers".

Windows Media Player (WMP):
Microsoft is required, within 90 days "to offer to PC manufacturers a 
version of its Windows client PC operating system without WMP". As 
previously anticipated, this means that Microsoft can continue shipping 
Windows with WMP but that it should "refrain from using any commercial, 
technological or contractual terms that would have the effect of 
rendering the unbundled version of Windows less attractive or 
performing to lower standards. In particular, it must not give PC 
manufacturers a discount conditional on their buying Windows together 
with WMP." According to competition Commissioner Mario Monti, 
"consumers and PC hardware manufacturers ought to be able to decide 
which media player software they want to pre-install on their 
computers. They ought to choose, not Microsoft."

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