European Tech Wire - April 27, 2005

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EUROPEAN TECH WIRE - April 27, 2005
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To Subscribe: http://www.techwiremedia.com/europe

o EU: Microsoft Must Comply Immediately or Face New Fines
o French Court Strikes Blow against DVD Copy-Prevention
o France's Access Launches Third-Generation Fund of Funds
o Dassault Systemes Leads European Tech Winners of Stevies
o EU Launches Programme for Integration of Mobile Research
o Briefly Noted: Spain's CMT-Reinaldo Rodriguez Illera, Dixons-
European Expansion, Tideway Systems-Stephen Allott, Cybertrust
Inc.-Richard Eve, VeriSign-Kristofer Peterson-Field Fisher Waterhouse
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o EU: Microsoft Must Comply Immediately or Face New Fines

Brussels -- The EU warned Microsoft on Wednesday that the software
giant could face additional fines unless it complied immediately with
an order to stop abusing its dominant position in Europe. Earlier this
week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer met with EU Competition
Commissioner Neelie Kroes to discuss a number of outstanding
differences over the Commission's recent ruling against the company.
No progress, however, was made during the meeting, according to EU
spokesman Jonathan Todd. "All I can say for the moment (is that) we
are still not satisfied," he said. "Over a year has elapsed and, as of
today, we are not in a position to say that we are satisfied that
Microsoft has complied fully." In a landmark ruling last March, the
Commission ruled that Microsoft had abused the dominance of its
Windows operating system to lock out competitors and ordered the
company to share server protocols with competitors. The EU could now
fine Microsoft as much as 5% of its daily global turnover for each day
it fails to apply a decision favourable to the Commission.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/050427111339.35c2wokr
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/legalnews.asp
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o French Court Strikes Blow against DVD Copy-Prevention

Paris -- In an unprecedented ruling against copy-prevention
technologies, the Paris Court of Appeals ordered local DVD vendors to
remove copies of David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" from store shelves
this week. The suit, filed by consumer advocacy group UFC-Que
Choisir, concerns a French consumer who was unable to transfer the
movie onto a video cassette for personal use (he wanted to show the
film at his mother's house). The court ruled that copy prevention
software on the DVD had violated the consumer's privacy rights.
Pundits say the ruling, which sets a new precedent in the EU, could be
a major setback for the DVD industry. "This ruling means that 80
percent of DVDs now on the French market are equipped with illegal
mechanisms," said Julien Dourgnon, a spokesman for UFC-Que
Choisir.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?H319228FA
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o Dassault Systemes Leads European Tech Winners of Stevies

London -- France-based Dassault Systemes is among the big winners in
the second annual International Business Awards (IBAs), sharing Best
Multinational Company honours with Star Syringe Ltd. of the U.K.
Other top European technology winners include Oracle Corp. EMEA,
the Czech Republic's Oskarmobil, Siemens Medical Solutions and
Vertex, which won two awards. More than 75 winners of the awards --
also known as the Stevies -- were announced on Wednesday in
categories ranging from Best Multinational Company and Best New
Product to Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programme and Best
Executive. The 21 countries represented in the winners' circle include
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech
Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates,
the U.K. and the U.S.
http://www.stevieawards.com/iba/
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o EU Launches Programme for Integration of Mobile Research

Brussels -- The EU announced that it has launched a new project
aiming to better integrate research programmes on mobile
communications in Europe. The ALIPRO group, led by the Polish
MOST Foundation, will support the alignment of the new member
states' national and regional research programmes with European IT
research in the area of mobile technologies, applications and services.
Another goal of the project is to gather mobile experts from new
member states and introduce them to eMobility, the Mobile and
Wireless Communications and Technology Platform for concentrating
European research resources in the mobile and wireless area. ALIPRO
is composed of 14 organisations from all new member states, as well as
Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Germany.
http://www.eurescom.de/alipro/
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o France's Access Launches Third-Generation Fund of Funds

Paris -- Access Capital Partners, a France-based private equity funds-
of-funds manager that specialises in mid-market buy-outs and
technology venture-capital funds in Europe, announced on Wednesday
that it has begun to market its third generation of funds of funds.
Access Capital Fund III Technology Europe, whose target size is 100
million euro, will invest in a selection of European technology venture
capital funds primarily in IT and, to a lesser extent, life sciences. The
Access Capital Fund III Mid-Market Buy-Out Europe fund, whose
target size is 250 million euro, will invest in a selection of European
mid-market buy-out funds ranging from 100 million to 1 billion euro in
size.
http://www.access-capital-partners.com/home.htm
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o Briefly Noted:

(Madrid) The Spanish government has proposed Reinaldo Rodriguez
Illera as the new director of CMT, the Spanish telecommunications
watchdog. If accepted, CMT board member Rodriguez Illera, 53, would
replace Carlos Bustelo, who resigned last month amid a row with the
government over the relocation of the regulator's headquarters to
Barcelona. Created in 1996, the CMT is an independent regulator.
Although the government makes the final decision on the appointment
of the regulator, the chairman, who enjoys a renewable six-year
mandate, cannot be dismissed by the government.
http://www.cmt.es/cmt/index.htm 

(London) Dixons, a U.K.-based electrical good retailer, announced that
it is fast-tracking plans to expand its electrical retail operation on the
Continent, increasing the number of its PC City superstores in France
from seven to as many as 100 stores. The company also said it would
enter two new markets with the opening of its first store in Portugal and
two new stores in Poland. Dixons CEO John Clare said the expansion
was an "important strategic move" that underpins the company's
position in the European market. "Approaching one third of our sales
are generated in stores outside of the U.K., and we have plans for
further growth in all the countries where we now have a presence," he
said.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z48F358FA

(London) Tideway Systems, a London-based specialist in business
intelligence for IT, announced that it has appointed Stephen Allott as
non-executive chairman of its board of directors. Allott is chairman and
co-founder of Trinamo, a technology sales performance consultancy,
and founder and a governing council member of the Cambridge
Computer Lab Ring, a non-profit members' association for graduates of
the Cambridge University Computer Laboratory. Allot also served as
president, chief financial officer and a main board director for
Micromuse Inc., a San Francisco-based service management company.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?A547258FA

(London) Cybertrust Inc., a U.S.-based privately owned information
security company, announced that it has appointed Richard Eve as its
new U.K. country manager. Based in London, Eve's primary
responsibility will be to grow business throughout the U.K. and expand
relationships in the security market with partners and strategic
alliances. "(Eve) brings with him over twenty years of experience
within the security sector and an impressive record of success," said
John Holland, Cybertrust senior vice president for Europe, the Middle
East and Africa. "His knowledge and expertise of the industry will
support the growth of Cybertrust in Europe."
http://www.cybertrust.com/

(London) VeriSign Inc., a U.S.-based provider of intelligent
infrastructure for the Internet and telecommunications networks,
announced that it is expanding its Digital Brand Management Services
in Europe through the appointment of Kristofer Peterson as a new sales
executive for the U.K. Separately, the company also announced that it
has entered into a partnership with Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW), a
U.K.-based law firm specialising in intellectual property, that will
allow FFW to offer Digital Brand Management Services directly to its
clients.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M2AE268FA

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