French And European Attacks On American Technology Companies
Europe against American technology
Warsaw, Poland 2 July, 2006 The European Union has been attacking Microsoft because of Microsoft's dominant position in the European market. They even forced Microsoft to create a product that no one has been willing to buy. And as the appeals process in the courts ends for Microsoft they are about to have to pay huge fines per day unless they yield up their rights to intellectual property.
And now the French and the European Union are after Apple. The French government is essentially engaged in intellectual property theft. And they are likely to have the support of the European Union in this process.
The attack on the Apple company fits the profile of the French way of living. First they want something free. If they can't get it free they want it by doing as little work as possible. If neither of those to succeed, they look at some scheme of bribery. If that does not work they steal it with the assistance of the government, if possible.
Microsoft and Apple are two technological leaders but both have this same problem. They are American companies. And for the French anything American is a target.
The French want to develop a search engine to compete with Google.
The French have developed a new Internet maps system to compete with Google.
The French were behind the development of a global positioning system to compete with the U.S. system.
So the news items of late showing the latest attack by the French on Apple should not come as any surprise to anyone. And any company from America doing business in Europe should expect the same treatment by the French and other countries in the European Union.
European News Review
http://www.ttc.org/200606301637.k5ugb3a24232.htm NEW FRENCH LAW ATTACKS ALL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS: US GROUP
A US technology association Friday labeled a new French law requiring "interoperability" of devices like Apple's iPod music player as "attack on intellectual property rights" of all companies. Americans for Technology Leadership, a group that includes major US firms like Microsoft, said the new law approved by France's Parliament remains troublesome despite the last-minute modifications. "The final vote today by French lawmakers on legislation that would force Apple to open its iTunes product to competitors devices is an attack on intellectual property rights not just of Apple but all companies," the organization said in a statement. "While the final version is slightly less severe than the earlier draft, it still illustrates France's complete disregard for intellectual property," said Jim Prendergast, the group's executive director. "Government-led theft of intellectual property is wrong, whether we're talking about iTunes or Champagne."
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/80f56f60-0825-11db-b9b2-0000779e2340.html France tones down Apple iTunes threat
French lawmakers on Friday watered down their contentious legislation to force Apple Computer to open up its closed system of iPod players and iTunes online music.
But the company still faces the risk of up to $700m fines if it does not comply and the possibility that other governments may be inspired to follow France’s lead.
The law, rushed through after a heated debate on the last day of the session, maintains that all electronic devices should be “interoperable”, so that consumers can play legally downloaded music on any type of digital player. At present, iTunes songs can only be played on Apple technology or burned on to CDs.
The final text, a compromise agreed last week, now gives a new regulatory body powers to impose fines of up to 5 per cent of global turnover on companies that refuse demands to publish the source code to their systems
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7b080b9c-0840-11db-b9b2-0000779e2340.html Recriminations begin after fall of Dutch government
As the Netherlands on Friday was on course for fresh elections, it was evident that the blur of events of the previous 24 hours, in which the government fell amid a row over the citizenship of anti-Islam campaigner Ayaan Hirsi Ali, had taken everyone by surprise.
A Parisian Comes Home (from Iraq)
The following extracts translated from an article in yesterday's (28 June) Le Figaro on the Parisian Mohammed E., who returned home to France this week from Iraq via Syria. With his 23 years, Mohammed E., who was deported yesterday from Syria to France and taken into custody by the DST [the French Domestic intelligence service], is already a veteran of the Iraqi Jihad.
Price of love comes down in Britain
It will be cheaper to make love in Britain from Saturday thanks to a reduction in sales tax on condoms announced by the Treasury on Friday. Value added tax on condoms and other non-prescription contraceptive products will be five percent, rather than the standard 17,5 percent, "leading to immediate reductions in the prices paid by consumers", it said in a statement. "Safe sex has never been cheaper," said Public Health Minister Caroline Flint, who cautioned that couples still bear responsibility for halting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
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