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May 19, 2008 - Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer was speaking to a group at Budapest University to promote a program in which Microsoft will train IT professionals in the country. As he was speaking, a man stood up, began shouting at Ballmer in Hungarian and threw three eggs at him. All three eggs missed and Ballmer ducked behind a counter in the front of the lecture hall. The man, who had the words "Microsoft Equals Corruption" written on the back of his shirt, was escorted out of the room. He was reportedly accusing Microsoft of stealing millions from the country's taxpayers. What precisely is the gripe? According one post: In March the Hungarian government signed a contract with Microsoft to license its software for university students and public servants (cca. 500000 ppl). The contract will last until March 2009, one year only, and it costs (25000 Million FT = $147M) of taxpayer money. (just calculate: 147M/500k = $300/man for a 1 year Microsoft license.
The competitors of Microsoft hadn't had a chance, so they went to court.
When Ballmer came to the University, the court put the trial off, which is apparently illegal according to Hungarian law.
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