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April 26, 2006 ECIS Media Release - Statement by ECIS Counsel, Thomas Vinje The third day of the full-week European Court of First Instance hearing on Microsoft's appeal of the European Commission's March 2004 Decision has concluded here this afternoon. ECIS is an intervener in these proceedings and is giving evidence in support of the Commission's Decision. This afternoon the Court heard the European Commission explain its Decision ordering Microsoft to supply the necessary interoperability information for work group server competitors. Statement by Thomas Vinje Legal Counsel ECIS "The Commission's testimony this afternoon clearly shows that Microsoft's share of the market for work group server operating systems is close to 70% and continues to rise, while all other vendors are boxed into a gradually shrinking fringe". "Earlier today we heard Microsoft repeat its claims to copyright and patent protection for the interoperability information the Commission Decision requires. But protocol specifications are really just 'rules of the road' for connecting two different software products. They have little or no inherent innovative or technological value worthy of intellectual property protection. Microsoft is trying to turn this into an intellectual property case, but it is not." About ECIS ECIS is an international non-profit association founded in 1989 that strives to promote market conditions in the ICT sector allowing vigorous competition on the merits and a diversity of consumer choice. ECIS has actively represented its members on many issues related to interoperability and competition before European, national and international bodies, including the EU institutions and WIPO, and is an official Intervener in the legal proceedings arising from the Commission’s March 2004 Microsoft Decision. ECIS’ members include large and smaller information and communications technology hardware and software providers Adobe, Corel, IBM, Linspire, Nokia, Opera, Oracle, RealNetworks, Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems. ECIS media desk at Burson-Marsteller: |
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