EU Trade Commissioner Enjoyed MS Hospitality

Brian Blessed writes "Today's edition of The Times contains a report that Peter Mandelson, the EU (European Union) Trade Commissioner, spent New Year's Eve as a guest of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, in the Carribean on Mr Allen's luxury yacht. The story mentions the conflict of interest that this causes because of the protracted legal battle between Microsoft and the European Commission. Perhaps the Trade Commissioner has also been in a position to influence the progress of European Software Patent legislation?"

Well, why not?

[FlyByPC]

They buy everything else in sight -- how much can the EU possibly cost, anyway?

So what else is new with politicians.

[cc-rider-Texas]

During the party on the Octopus, Mr Mandelson and Mr Allen greeted each other, but his spokesman insisted that "there was no substantial conversation" and that the pair merely exchanged pleasantries. This was merely an introduction. The bribes come later.

Re:Days of old...

[Timesprout]

If Peter Mandleson is behind you I dont think its to scratch your back.

invitation

[ch-chuck]

I'll extend an invitation to the TC for a hiking/camping trip any time he wants to discuss FOSS. If everything goes well, I'll even break out the marshmallows.

A night to remember.

[millennial]

It all started at the party. Peter noticed Paul staring at him the whole time, and knew that he had to do something about it. He walked over to Paul and waited for him to say something.
Mandleson and Allen gazed longingly into each other's eyes. They knew that the moment was right, and if everything was perfect, there would be magic tonight.
"Whatever shall we do, Paul?" Peter said with a coy smile.
Paul just grinned and patted his hand. "How about we go into the bedroom and ... talk about those patents?"
Seriously. Homoeroticism abounds in this article. Two men spending New Year's Eve on the Caribbean in a private yacht? Whoa.
Anyways, to continue the story...
It was a night to remember. The two were up all night long, engaging in passionate discourse about patent restrictions on software in Europe. They say that private bargaining is like eating at a Chinese restaurant - it's not over until everyone gets their cookies. Paul got his patent cookies, and Mandelson got his legal jibblies off.
They knew that they could tell no one, so they told their spokespeople that "there was no substantial conversation" and that they had merely exchanged pleasantries.

I like my version better.

Foul play

[Before The End Chaos]

Political enemies don't have to be personal enemies too, even as fun as it'd be if they were all out for each others blood off of work hours.

Re:Perception vs reality.

[k4_pacific]

Yes, in fact my company arranged a round of golf between one of our more satisfied customers and a prospective customer with the hope they would discuss our product. Kind of reminded me of when zoos put two pandas in the same habitat to see if they mate.

Businessman: As you can see, our product...
Zookeeper: Look everybody! He's "presenting".

Re:Well, why not?

[Timesprout]

Well if you can wait till Russia join then you can probably pick the whole lot up for 27 Euros and a case of vodka.

Word is...

[dbleoslow]

Linus invited this guy on the same day to hang out, discuss kernal optimization and play some D&D but was turned down in favor of Allen.

The Prince of darkness

[dhopton]

This suprises you because...? It's peter mandleson, the prince of darkness, the arch overlord of the bad-things.

Re:Not a great track record.

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey Americans!

Are you sick of reading about sleazy U.S. politicians scoffing at the public trough while really serving their corporate paymasters? Feel like a change?

Yes... just across the Atlantic Ocean is a poltical system that has had centuries more to develop all kind of juicy and sordid sleaze and corruption. Yes... in lovely rainy London you can find all the grift and payola you are used to at home, plus many *many* new tricks.

Want to see our star players? Number one on the roster of reptilian sleazoids is Peter Mandelson (or Mandy as he is known). Famed for his secretive trips to Brazil to have sex with bronzed Beach-boys, and *twice* fired from a job as cabinet minister for blatant corruption and rank dishonesty, Peter still manages to rise from the dead like a Romero zombie and fall into a cushy unelected unaccountable yet enormously powerful position on the European commission. So come, Americans, learn from the best. Mandelson is available for speeches and lecture tours.

Re:Mandelson has only one priority

[sepluv]

Alternatively, maybe Mandelson and Allen (and, therefore, the €C and M$) are working as allies to milk the most out of the European people for their own ends.

This is, of course, a totally crazy conspiracy theory and would in no way be representative of the normal behavour of European commisioners (especially the stain-free* Mandelson) or founders and shareholders of Microsoft.

* talking of stains, how much do you bet they weren't just talking on this yacht on new year's eve. Mandelson is defintely gay (and known for his homosexual affairs with others in power). No idea about Allen--but maybe it was a you-give-me-a-blowjob-and-we'll-drop-charges-again st-Microsoft sort of deal.

I hope Paul Allen

[Insipid Trunculance]

served some Guacamole.

Re:Perception vs reality.

[Pollardito]

RTFBBC

Detals of Paul Allen's yacht [PowerPoint]

[Zemplar]

A very impressing ship indeed! Very interesting detail of his yacht... http://kimmershow.com/fileTamer/TheOctopus.pps#54 [kimmershow.com]

open source lobbying

[bytesmythe]

I wonder why he didn't spend time on Eric S. Raymond's luxury yacht? (I suspect because it's actually pronounced Throat Warbler Mangrove.)