Well... The long trials could actually make the fines more effective in this case.
Short trial = a powerful US company gets a serious fine = US diplomatic pressure (ineffective, as court decision is not that simple to undo) and all kinds of international stench... The company may or may not have to pay the fine, but nobody's happy.
Long trial = the company has enough time to realize they are going to lose. US pressure can actually be met with a good answer (make them behave and we'll see). The US doesn't really want a conflict with the EU, so the company will hears some discouraging words from the politicians they are trying to buy. The company decides it's cheaper to silence this through backpedalling. Problem fixed, the court decides to lower the fine to more traditional "slap on the wrist" level since the violation has been corrected, the company pays without even noticing in the budget... Everybody's happy.
Sometimes the punishment is not the remedy - the threat is.
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Just block Google in the EU (Score:2)
Well... The long trials could actually make the fines more effective in this case.
Short trial = a powerful US company gets a serious fine = US diplomatic pressure (ineffective, as court decision is not that simple to undo) and all kinds of international stench... The company may or may not have to pay the fine, but nobody's happy.
Long trial = the company has enough time to realize they are going to lose. US pressure can actually be met with a good answer (make them behave and we'll see). The US doesn't really want a conflict with the EU, so the company will hears some discouraging words from the politicians they are trying to buy. The company decides it's cheaper to silence this through backpedalling. Problem fixed, the court decides to lower the fine to more traditional "slap on the wrist" level since the violation has been corrected, the company pays without even noticing in the budget... Everybody's happy.
Sometimes the punishment is not the remedy - the threat is.