I think a point to remember, is that there is profound difference between common law and civil law in that in civil law country the spirit of the law is usually

I think a point to remember, is that there is profound difference between common law and civil law in that in civil law country the spirit of the law is usually more important than specific wording, and precedents have much less impact. I think the current chase after big companies is mostly a change in the interpretation of the spirit of the law. One could argue it creates a dangerous climate for business and it's probably right, but at the same time no one ever argued that what those companies did was moral in regard of the law, only that it followed it's wording. (I personally think our laws should change, but at the same time it's obvious that countries like Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands... Would veto it at the EU level)