Antitrust latest: Europe's Vestager warns Microsoft, OpenAI 'the story is not over'

Despite a European Commission review in April clearing Microsoft of trying to exert control over OpenAI by the backdoor, the duo's $13 billion partnership hasn't escaped regulatory scrutiny just yet. "We are closing this chapter, but the story is not over," Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president of the commission, said …

[trindflo]

Anyone remember the Human Genome project?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project

When the ability to sequence the entirety of human genetics became feasible, an international collaborative effort was made to guarantee this knowledge would forever be in the public domain and to prevent any one corporation from patenting large portions of it.

Are we nearing the point where human knowledge can be encapsulated and patented, and do public interests need to get there first?

[Bebu]

"I'll get you next time, Gadget, next time!"

Presumably a reference to Dr Claw (M.A.D) the arch adversary of Inspector Gadget?

Insp. Gadget image

_{I hadn't realized the good inspector was originally voiced by Don Adams (aka Agent 86 :)}

[katrinab]

"And despite Microsoft's massive bet on Sam Altman and his crew, the IT giant has - at least on the surface - surprisingly little control over the super-lab's operations. In fact, it was only after Altman's brief ousting and subsequent return as CEO last fall that Microsoft was able to put an observer on OpenAI's board."

I strongly disagree. They objected to Sam Altman's removal from the Board, and were able to get him re-instated. That demonstrates that they have effective control over the company. So it is clear that what they want to happen, and what is happening is that Sam Altman should decide what is going on. That is a conscious management decision they have made.

[Bugsy11]

Story is definitely not over for EU consumers

What will end up is that iPhones, Androids, and possibly PC's will end up costing E.U. consumers more money than in other countries. Device makers will need to ramp up shelf prices to make up for lost revenues from their App Stores. Meanwhile Spotify, Epic, and other greedy developers already making $ billions on these platforms will be able to rake in more revenues from EU consumers through their own app stores. EU consumers will be picking up the tab for the higher prices. Meanwhile, Spotify, Epic, and other multibillion $ companies will be blowing kisses to Ms. Vestager as they laugh all the way to the bank with their pockets flush with EU consumers' cash. This is not to even mention the increased ads that may start to show up in first party apps on iPhones and Androids. That will be another ding to EU consumers wallets to remove them. Ms. Vesteger will probably end up doing more harm to EU consumers than any Silicon Valley company ... all for protecting multi-billion $ software companies that want even more market share and more cash at the expense of smaller developers and consumers.