A Cnet story on the EC's continued bullying of Microsoft gets interesting responses:

•The EU has become the mouthpiece for socialist activities. Forget capitalism... Isn?t it funny that IBM, Oracle and others are using this organization as a puppet to further their causes?

•The people imposing the fines haven't said what MS is doing wrong other than being successful… What [Kroes] is saying is that because people prefer your product we are going to fine you.

•I suspect nothing short of open sourcing Windows will make the[m] happy... they maybe doing it to Microsoft now, but that doesn't mean they couldn't do it Intel, Apple, or any other dominate U.S companies. It clear that there are those that will seek to compete by having regulators handicap the completion for them.

•translation: MS continues to be successful, lets keep screwing them… EU can't stand the fact that most of its PC run on an OS made by a US company.

•Is it possible ..That maybe it is just a good product sold at a reasonable price.. This is just another example of another government trying to take down a US company. I guess if you can't compete, legislate.

Despite my disagreement with the EC, Neelie Kroes and others at the commission cannot be called exceptional; regulatory bodies have always tried to make themselves relevant to justify their jobs. However, Kroes and the EC should make sure they don't get so involved in such quagmire that it will be almost impossible for them to get out.