European regulators have gone dramatically further than their US counterparts by imposing a record fine of €497 million ($A817 million) and product changes on US software giant Microsoft for stifling competitors
Published:
25 March 2004 y., Thursday
The European Union's competition commissioner, Mario Monti, yesterday announced at the end of a five-year investigation that he was fining the world's biggest software company for abusing its dominant market position.
The Italian commissioner also ordered Bill Gates's titan to offer a European version of its all-conquering Windows operating system without Windows Media Player within 90 days.
And Microsoft was ordered to disclose "complete and accurate" data to enable rival companies to offer low-end servers that can work with Windows within 120 days.
The financial penalty is the highest levied by the EU executive against a company.
The Seattle-based company, denying that it abuses its overwhelming dominance to illegally crush competitors, has already vowed to appeal the verdict at the European Court of Justice.
Monti said the sanctions laid down a clear marker for the future conduct of Microsoft, which escaped fines in a US anti-trust investigation.
Šaltinis:
theage.com.au
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
An International Monetary Fund mission led by Mr. Paulo Drummond visited Bissau during January 12-27, 2010, to discuss the government’s medium-term economic program that could be supported by the IMF under the Extended Credit Facility.
more »
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) have agreed to support US$1.9 billion in debt relief for the Republic of Congo, which includes US$255.2 million of debt relief from the two institutions.
more »
In 2009, net external assets of Monetary Financial Institutions remained negative but increased by LTL 9.3 billion.
more »
Spain's Minister for Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, supports making R&D+i at the heart of Europe as a key to economic recovery.
more »
Lithuania and Malta granted reprieve on budget deficits; Hungary and Latvia on track to meet deadlines.
more »
More responsibility for fishermen, rules favouring good fishing practice and adjusting fisheries management models to complement and improve the traditional quota system should be among the key aims of common fisheries policy reform, say MEPs in an own-initiative report approved by the Fisheries Committee on Wednesday.
more »
On January 8, 2010, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Yemen.
more »
On January 22, 2010, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Norway.
more »
Agriculture can help to slow climate change, but should be ready to adapt to the impact of global warming, said Agriculture Committee MEPs and scientists at a public hearing on Wednesday.
more »
The Ministers for Employment of the European Union are holding an informal council on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 January which will lay the foundations for drawing up the common policies in the area of employment which the European Union will adopt over the next ten years as part of the “2020 Strategy”.
more »