Red Hat’s Szulik comments on EU vs. Microsoft

Can you say Schadenfreude?

Red Hat dropped me a note this morning in response to the European’s Commission’s smack down of Microsoft. I don’t know if Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik was toasting champagne while he fired off this response, but it would have totally made sense if he was.

“Today’s decision by the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg in the Microsoft matter is great news for innovation and consumer choice, both in Europe and around the world. The Court has confirmed that competition law prevents a monopolist from simply using its control of the market to lock in customers and stifle new competitors,” said Szulik, Chairman and CEO of Red Hat. “In our business, interoperability information is critically important and cannot simply be withheld to exclude all competition. Given Red Hat’s firm belief that competition, not questionable patent and trade secret claims, drives innovation and creates greater consumer value, we were pleased with the overall decision and look forward to examining the decision in greater detail. Red Hat would like to congratulate the European Commission, and particularly Commissioner Neelie Kroes and her services, for their persistence and courage in bringing this matter to a successful result.”

Schadenfreude. Look it up.