It seems that the European Commission and Microsoft have reached a compromise regarding the tight (when it comes to Microsoft) competition rules of the EU. In fact, in order to avoid a fine for anti-competitive behavior, Microsoft has agreed to a barter exchange. Instead of shelling out millions to the Commission, Microsoft will be going down the more cost-effective solution of helping to spread the European spirit, by incorporating the EU flag into the next Windows 7 logo.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition keeps tight tabs on the world’s top operating system (and much more) developer. In fact the office is subscribed to all Microsoft RSS feeds, Press Releases, and even its beta testing program, to be able to spot infractions early.

Now as good business practice, when DG Competition hits a cash flow problem, it is obvious that they first call on their very best of clients. Microsoft abuses its dominant market position by placing its Internet Explorer in the Windows Operating System. This apparently creates an unfair advantage to developers of other internet browsers (Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, etc).

But wait a minute! What about the poor solitaire people? How many solitaire game companies have gone out of business because of Microsoft? It was okay in the beginning, with only the classic solitaire available on Windows. Now, this has expanded to include Freecell and Spider Solitaire, which is already sounding alarm bells with the Competition authorities. This cause for alarm is amplified by the further rumor that the next Microsoft OS will include Pyramid, a further variation of the most popular solo game on earth.

Doesn’t Mac also bundle Safari into their computers, and internet-capable iPhones? With internet being the primary usage of a computer nowadays, the internet browser is not a bundled component, but an integral part of the operating system. Asking that Microsoft include Internet Explorer (which they have spent tens of millions in developing) with their own operating system (which they have spent hundreds of millions in developing) is simply… LUDICROUS.