Competition and competitors

At the time the merger GE/Honeywell was blocked by the Commission, a slogan started to circulate: we Americans protect competition, you Europeans protect competitors.
A few years later, the European Commission finds that Microsoft infringed article 82, the CFI upholds the decision and some people try to recycle that slogan once again.

But something in the air has changed.
Immediately after the judgment, not less than the Economist ("Brussels rules OK") depicted European regulators as the ones playing a role in the global economy, while Uncle Sam stays at the window.

Now, discussing the Intel issue, also the NYT has contrasted the dismissive behaviour of the FTC towards big companies with the actions of European, Japanese and Korean authorities.

Is it not time for a new slogan?

First reactions to Microsoft

After more than 3 years, the CFI has finally ruled on the Commission's Microsoft decision.

While waiting for the next TILEC Club Med's to discuss the judgment more in detail, some TILEC comments are already available: preliminary remarks have been given by TILEC's co-director Pierre Larouche to Het Financieele Dagblad and in the original (pdf) English version.

Besides, I'd like to link also to the Commissioner's comments.