The European Commission on Friday reiterated its concerns over Microsoft Corp.'s plans to buy MediaOne Group Inc.'s 29.7 percent stake in British cable company Telewest Communications.
Published:
30 May 2000 y., Tuesday
A statement of objections is a legal document setting out the EU antitrust watchdog's competition concerns and asking the companies involved to offer concessions to address them. Microsoft has requested a hearing to put across its arguments why the deal should be cleared. European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said on March 22 that he had opened a four-month probe into Microsoft's plan, highlighting concerns about reduced competition in various areas of the digital cable industry. He said there were concerns in particular about the provision of software for digital set-top boxes in Britain and its impact for the choice of British cable subscribers. Monti also said he was worried the deal would strengthen Telewest's existing position as an exclusive supplier of cable services to customers within its franchise area, and undertakings already offered by the companies had been insufficient to ease these concerns.
Telewest, which does not currently use Microsoft technology in its set-top boxes, said it welcomed Microsoft as a potential shareholder. The investigation comes as Microsoft faces the possibility of being split up after being found guilty in the United States of breaking antitrust laws.
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
The EU needs a strategy by 2011 to encourage the creation of green jobs, says a draft resolution by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee that was adopted on Wednesday.
more »
Householders should not have to go without gas due to a gas-supply crisis, and such crises should be better managed, thanks to EU-wide co-ordination procedures and interconnection requirements laid down in draft legislation agreed informally with the Council at the end of June and approved by the Industry Committee on Tuesday.
more »
Today the Council has taken the formal decision which will pave the way for the introduction of the euro in Estonia as of 1 January 2011 and will become the 17th European Union country to share the euro currency.
more »
Proposals to improve protection for bank account holders and retail investors, and set up similar schemes for insurance policies.
more »
How should the EU's farm policy be reshaped and how should it be funded after 2013?
more »
MEPs on Wednesday approved some of the strictest rules in the world on bankers' bonuses.
more »
Long before the financial crisis the European Parliament regularly pointed out the significant failures in the EU’s supervision of ever more integrated financial markets.
more »
New strategy for stimulating tourism in Europe – to realise the full potential of an industry that already plays an important role in the economy.
more »
The European Commission has disclosed who in 2009 received EU funds in policy areas like research, education and culture, energy and transport or external aid.
more »
The European Commission has approved 19 programmes in 14 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom) to provide information on and to promote agricultural products in the European Union.
more »