If you are Google you are taking a hard look at how the European Union just treated Microsoft when it deemed that the software company had crossed the line in their efforts to make their browser, Internet Explorer, the ‘go to’ browser for users in EU countries.

Reuters reports

The European Union fined Microsoft Corp 561 million euros on Wednesday for failing to offer consumers a choice of web browser, a charge that will act as a warning to other technology firms involved in antitrust disputes with the EU.

It said the U.S. company had broken a legally binding commitment made in 2009 to ensure consumers had a choice of browser, rather than defaulting to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

The movie, TV and music industries have a brand new weapon in the fight against digital piracy. It’s called The Copyright Alert System and it’s online now, ready to come down on anyone caught sharing illegally.

Here’s how it works. A studio or artist finds their product on a file sharing server. They notify the Internet Service Provider (ISP) who serves the uploader and the ISP then sends out a warning notice.

The new CAS let’s you have six strikes before you’re out. Then, your service provider (for example, your cable company) can take action by slowing down your internet speed or forcing you to a landing page that requires a chat to remove.

ArsTechnica posted examples of the warning letters as well as their concerns about the process.

It was announced late yesterday that the current head of the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is stepping down in the middle of February.

Adweek reports

Federal Trade Commission chairman Jon Leibowitz will step down from the agency in mid-February after eight years in the position.

Many in Washington anticipated his move, announced late Thursday in a number of leading national newspapers, since last year.

But first, Leibowitz had a few things on his “to do” list that he wanted to finish, including closing the agency’s two-year antitrust investigation into Google and passing updated rules to the children’s privacy laws. On Friday, the FTC is expected to release a staff report on mobile privacy and related enforcement action.