Restricted boot - a Memeber of the European Parliament replies

As a consequence
of the
uncovering of the boot restrictions the Microsoft Windows 8 Hardware
Certification Requirements place on ARM PCs I wrote to my MEP,
Linda McAvan. I'll summarise her reply:

1. A question was asked late last year in the European Parliament
   concerning Microsoft Windows 8. The core of the Commission's reply
   was

   "Whether or not there is a violation of European competition rules
   and in particular of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of
   the European Union, however, depends on a range of factual, legal
   and economic considerations which are difficult to assess before the
   product has been finalised and before any computers running the
   Windows 8 [sic] operating systems have been placed on the market."

   The reply goes on to reassure whoever the MEP was that the Commission
   would keep their eye on the matter.

2. Ms McAvan feels that the finialisation of the Microsoft Windows 8
   Hardware Certification Requirements with the restrictions on ARM
   PCs is material of substance and is therefore writing a
   follow-up question to the Commission. She will write again when
   she receives a reply.
3. She then goes on to remind me of the times the Commission has
   given Microsoft a spanking.

Good news I hope you'll agree. The arguments I used are given on my website http://andrewlindley.co.uk/