Microsoft Stalked By EU

by Taylor Flatt on January 18th, 2009 at 1:26 pm EDT - 331 views

Microsoft has just been notified this Thursday that they will be required to appear in court due to the fact that they have been violating antitrust laws passed down by the EU.

However, this is not the first time the EU has pursued Microsoft and ask for money. Years ago, the EU fined Microsoft 1.35 billion because they were overcharging software manufactures. I’m not surprised one bit that the EU is seeking out more money from their best friend Microsoft. Microsoft also released a lengthy statement saying they are going to comply with EU’s regulations,

“Yesterday Microsoft received a Statement of Objections from the Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission.  The Statement of Objections expresses the Commission’s preliminary view that the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows since 1996 has violated European competition law. According to the Statement of Objections, other browsers are foreclosed from competing because Windows includes Internet Explorer. The Statement of Objections states that the remedies put in place by the U.S. courts in 2002 following antitrust proceedings in Washington, D.C. do not make the inclusion of Internet Explorer in Windows lawful under European Union law.”

“We are committed to conducting our business in full compliance with European law.  We are studying the Statement of Objections now. Under European competition law procedure, Microsoft will be afforded an opportunity to respond in writing to this Statement of Objections within about two months. The company is also afforded an opportunity to request a hearing, which would take place after the submission of this response. Under EU procedure, the European Commission will not make a final determination until after it receives and assesses Microsoft’s response and conducts the hearing, should Microsoft request one.“  
 – Microsoft Corporation

 

I am loving this new hit on Microsoft. It is really funny because Microsoft, the giant, the gods of technology, are being fined every couple of years for cutting corners. Folks, these fines are just a $100 parking ticket, it is billions of dollars. Microsoft has roughly 2 months to respond to the claim and has the availability of requesting a hearing with the EU officials. I am sure they will take full advantage of those 2 months.

This case, more specifically, deals with the fact that Microsoft has included IE in Windows ever since 1996. EU says that this violates the European competition law and therefore has the right to ask for billions of dollars when they find things that are against their rules. Oh well, I suppose this is just pocket change for Microsoft.

Source: CRN
Image courtesy of amfedjujitsu