WRITTEN QUESTION P-0527/03 by Norbert Glante (PSE) to the Commission. Introduction of the software component palladium and the microprocessor TPM (Trusted Platform Module).
Date: 2003-02-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: control of restrictive practices, data protection, electronic component, information technology industry, restriction on competition, software

C 192 E/196

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

(2003/C 192 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0527/03

by Norbert Glante (PSE) to the Commission

(18 February 2003)

Subject: Introduction of the software component palladium and the microprocessor TPM (Trusted Platform

Module)

Does the Commission have any information concerning the technical data-security questions linked to the
introduction of the software component palladium and the microprocessor TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
by the consortium Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TPCA), and if so, what information does it have?

In the Commission’s view, what implications as regards legislation governing competition and cartels will
the intended introduction of this hardware specification have for small and medium-sized software
companies in particular?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA) and related industry
initiatives, such as Microsoft’s Palladium. This project is still in its early stages. As such, and in the absence
of any formal complaint, the Commission is not conducting an anti-trust investigation on the issue. The
Commission is, nevertheless, fully aware of the potential impact of technologies such as TCPA/Palladium
including openness of the software markets, user control and user rights issues,
on a range of areas,
privacy issues and content provision. The Commission is actively engaged in dialogue with all parties
expressing views on TCPA/Palladium.

It is the intention of the Commission to continue following this development during the next months, also
from the data protection viewpoint. The Commission provides the secretariat for the Article 29 Working
Party and its sub-groups. In this framework the Commission will participate at the discussions of the
Internet Task Force of the Article 29 Working Party, that is intending to explore the issue of TCPA/
Palladium during the next months.

(2003/C 192 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0531/03

by Theresa Zabell (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 February 2003)

Subject: International participation licence for motor rallies in the EU

Thanks to the EU, sport at European level is characterised by considerable mobility, and, allowing for
individuals’ geographical circumstances, many people have improved opportunities of engaging in sporting
activities or participating in competitions in a Member State other than their own.

Nonetheless, Galician or Portuguese individuals wishing to take part in motor rallies on either side of the
border have discovered that, as of this year, they are obliged to pay an additional fee of approximately
EUR 1 500.

This obstacle, which does not exist for other sports, applies only to ‘non-professional’ participants, who
may be presumed to be those who can least afford it.

Can the Commission state whether this practice is compatible with Community law on the free provision
of services?

Does the Commission not consider this fee of EUR 1 500 to be on the high side?