The European Competition Competitioner Mario Monti today confirmed that Brussels would rule against Microsoft
Published:
19 March 2004 y., Friday
The European Competition Competitioner Mario Monti today confirmed that Brussels would rule against Microsoft - the World's biggest software company - for breaking EU competition rules.
Top level talks between Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and Mr Monti failed to break the deadlock in the investigation, which has been in progress for five years, although Mr Ballmer is thought to have made some concessions to European concerns.
And today Mr Monti told an impromptu press conference in Brussels, "I'd just like to inform you that a settlement on the Microsoft case has not been possible".
He added that he wanted to create a "clear precedent" which would be better for consumers and competition.
The amount of the fine, which could be as high as ten percent of Microsoft's turnover, will be decided next Wednesday (24 March).
In addition, the EU could force Microsoft to offer versions of its Windows operating system without certain features, notably Windows media player - which allows users to download audio and video clips.
Brussels believes that Microsoft's practice of including this media player with its Windows system - known as "bundling" - is an abuse of its dominant market position.
Microsoft - which employs 12,000 people in Europe - saw its share price decline sharply by around two percent in European trading on the news.
Šaltinis:
euobserver.com
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 European Parliament's proposal for its own operational budget for 2011 includes the financing of measures in preparation for enlargement with Croatia.
more »
Links between business and the academic world need to be strengthened but higher education institutions must retain their autonomy and public support, says a resolution adopted on Thursday by the European Parliament.
more »
The Spanish Minister of Economy and Finance, Elena Salgado, will present the additional fiscal tightening measures set out by the Spanish Government to her eurozone (Eurogroup) counterparts on Monday; the measures were required by Spain’s European partners as a condition of approving the plan to bolster the euro on 9 May.
more »
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under EU State aid rules into capital injections destined to two subsidiaries of state owned company Elan Skupina in Slovenia.
more »
GDP growth in the EU expected to gradually pick up, though recovery less robust than past upturns.
more »
The EESC tabled its opinion on the regulation of alternative investment funds, such as hedge funds and private funds. Although endorsing the much debated proposal of the European Commission, the EESC calls for uniform risk data provision for all such funds and emphasizes their responsibility in triggering the crisis.
more »
Concluding the process and deciding on the schedule for releasing the funds agreed on for Greece, as well as examining and learning lessons from the crisis for the governance of the eurozone, will be the focus of the discussions of the heads of state and government at the meeting in Brussels this Friday.
more »
The EU pavilion at the world expo in Shanghai marks the first time the EU has presented itself to a large Chinese audience.
more »
Shanghai's World Expo offers visitors plenty of fun offering bizarre things to do at over 200 pavillions competing for attention.
more »
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a loan of EUR 150 million to MVM Zrt. for the capacity increase and the extension of a high-voltage transmission network, partly constituting priority axes of the Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E) in Hungary.
more »