Watering down Windows trademark

Microsoft is having trademark problem again, and this time it has nothing to do with the company formerly known as Lindows claiming that "Windows" is a generic computer term that should never have been registered in the first place (this case has settled.)

The European Commission has ruled that Microsoft has been abusing their market share, and bundling extra technologies into their operating system. It appears that they can get big, but not shift that power into other areas. By including MSN Messenger or Windows Media player with a fresh install of Windows, they shut out competitors like AOL Instant Messenger or Real Audio. The argument goes that since there are already programs installed that do the same functionality, people will be less likely to install other non-Microsoft software.

The EU has ordered Microsoft to remove Windows Media Player from upcoming versions of Windows. I really don't think that will do much, since how many people actually purchase media playing software for their PC? There are indeed other software you can use for free, such as Winamp, MusicMatch and Real Player. I think people use these because they don't like Windows Media Player (myself included). Sometimes you need the Microsoft version, because a website might only have a video feed in Windows Media Format. Just because it doesn't come with Windows does not mean it will not be installed by a wide number of people. If good software is out there, and better than the Microsoft version, people will flock to it. Mozilla Firefox is a great example (I use Firefox, and recommend it instead of IE).

According to Microsoft says EU ruling would harm trademark on CBS MarketWatch:

"Microsoft is forced to create an adaptation of Windows that it would never consider creating otherwise and it must label it with its valuable Windows trademark. It strikes at the very heart of Microsoft's business model and design of Windows." They also said some websites wouldn't work without Windows Media Player and consumers who bought that version of Windows are "very likely to feel deceived."

I think this Microsoft spokesperson is a little batty. Do people buy Windows because they want Windows Media Player? If someone thinks that the only way to get Windows Media Player is to buy Microsoft Windows, then this is a pretty clueless person. I'll give you hint as to how you can obtain it: click here, and save yourself the price of Windows. Windows Media Player is free. I can see if Windows did not include a web browser, or couldn't play games- now those are features that people like and expect when buying Windows. I imagine media player is at the bottom of their list, and the consumers are already familiar with some of the other non-Microsoft media players.