Software giant Microsoft has lost its appeal against the European Commission at the Court of first instance and due to its anti-competitive actions it has been ordered to pay a £345 million fine.
"The
court of first instance essentially upholds the commission's decision
finding that Microsoft abused its dominant position"- Court's
statement.
Over the past 9 years the European Commission has battled against
Microsoft to make the software market a more competitive one. More
recently in 2004, Microsoft was ordered to share information with its
software rivals, so that their products could operate with other
computer systems. As well as making their Windows operation software
available without Windows Media Player, which was seen as being
anti-competitive since the user would not have a direct option as to
what entertainment software to use.
On Monday the court has ruled that Microsoft's behaviour has been
anti-competitive, and that their software should not be sold as part of
a package and that they should share information with rivals. Microsoft
is now unlikely to appeal again, and will comply with the demands.
However they feel that handing information over to rivals would only
affect theirs and competitors creativity.
Neelie Koroes, the competition commissioner has stated that "Microsoft
cannot abuse its windows monopoly to exclude competitors in other
markets". She has also predicted Microsoft's 95% market share to
decrease.
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