Heise Online is running a story (in German) saying that Microsoft will appeal the European Commission fine imposed on it.
I know the amount is small for a company like Microsoft, but in absolute term it is huge, I will be appealing if I were Microsoft.
Should the appeal be allowed and the fine reduced? Let’s not forget there are two fines: One for the offense and another for not following the remedy the EC told Microsoft to do. For both counts, morally speaking, since Microsoft fought tooth and nail and lost, it should not.
However, there is another dimension to it. This is a referendum of whether EC oversteps its authority by imposing a bigger than reasonable fine on Microsoft. When the judgement come through, we might have the answer. However, while it is possible, it is unlikely to be a clear cut case. We are extremely likely to look at the history of how appeals affects fine imposed by EC in the past and make our own informed decision.
