Europe has made its decision about Microsoft and the usual suspects have woken up and stood up to defend Microsoft. Such suspects include ACT and CompTIA, which are quite infamous (not famous) for their financial affairs with Microsoft and the blatant anti-Linux, anti-FSF, anti-Free software, and anti-EC biases (proven over the years). Actions that might follow this ruling in Japan and the United States will be particularly interesting, not to mention the effects on Windows Vista, which is known to have broken some of the rulings. As for Novell, there appears to be no exceptional impact, but Novell surely added to Microsoft's legal arsenal (defenses). Microsoft apparently intends to appeal now, after early claims to the contrary have been dismissed. Update: here is an article which is worth paying attention to. Microsoft Must Share Code With Rivals

Microsoft lost its appeal of a European antitrust order Monday that obliges the technology giant to share communications code with rivals...