EU criticized for action against Microsoft
605683
(InfoWorld) - Four European Parliament members warned the European Commission that its actions toward Microsoft could endanger the competitiveness of European businesses by delaying the release of Vista, Microsoft's next operating system. In a strongly worded letter submitted Thursday to Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, the legislators said Microsoft regards the E.U.'s regulatory actions as a "risk factor." Microsoft used the terminology in its annual report filed Aug. 25 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). "This effectively means that the Commission's actions are endangering the ability of European business to compete globally," the legislators wrote. The letter is signed by U.K. representatives Chris Heaton-Harris, Sharon Bowles and Peter Skinner, plus Michal Kaminski of Poland. Microsoft wrote in the SEC filing that its ongoing appeal of European Commission's March 2004 antitrust decision means there's uncertainty over the legal principles regarding product design in the European market. "These uncertainties could ... delay release dates for Windows or other products," the SEC filing read. Microsoft has provided copies of Vista to the Commission along with technical information, said spokesman Tom Brookes. The Commission, he said, has raised concerns regarding complaints by competitors. In March, the Commission sent a letter to Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, saying it was concerned about certain functions in Vista and how compatible the OS would be with products from other software companies. European Commission representatives were not immediately available for comment regarding Thursday's letter. Brookes said Microsoft was unaware of the letter until this morning. Two of the legislators said their letter is based on information contained in the company's SEC filing. Heaton-Harris referred questions to Microsoft, regarding why the company thought the E.U. might cause a delay Vista's shipping date. Microsoft has said Vista will be ready for corporate customers in November and consumers in January. Bowles said she has participated in informal sessions where Commission members have acknowledged they are watching Microsoft's development of Vista closely. She said she had no specific information on what the Commission is currently doing, as few details are publicly released. However, the Commission's actions have prompted concern among small to medium-size businesses in Europe, worried that the E.U. could potentially delay Vista's release, putting them at a competitive disadvantage with the rest of the world, Bowles said. "That climate of uncertainty caused through competition policy and actions already taken ... are meaning that Europe is being deprived," Bowles said. Europe is in the middle of a 10-year plan, called the Lisbon Agenda, to increase the continent's competitiveness in technology. The legislators wrote that they are concerned the Commission's actions toward Microsoft are undermining Europe's moves to become a knowledge-driven economy. Microsoft and the Commission have locked horns over how the company is complying with the March 2004 antitrust decision. TheÂ Commission fined MicrosoftÂ â¬280.5 million ($357 million at the time) in July for failing to provide technical documentation for certain protocols used by its server products. The Commission required disclosure of the protocols to allow competitors to develop compatible products.Â Microsoft is appealing. Microsoft is also appealing the entire March 2004 decision, in which it was fined â¬497 million ($613 million at the time), before the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg.
18764
EU Competition Commission Neelie Kroes says Microsoft has been running a "campaign" to discredit her.
344581
While Microsoft (MSFT ) has extinguished most of its legal flare-ups in the US, its fires in Europe continue to rage. The European Commission&#39;s antitrust unit is still tussling with the software giant over
286646
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union threatened Microsoft Corp. on Thursday with fines as high as $4 million a day, claiming the software company was still not offering a fair deal to rivals seeking to make their products more compatible with Windows.
195547
The European Union stepped up pressure Tuesday on Ukraine to review the outcome of its disputed presidential election, which has triggered widespread criticism from across the continent.
572541
The European Commission has begun two new antitrust investigations of Microsoft, including one probe into Microsoft's tactic of bundling software products with its Windows OS.
446842
COMMENTARY: The European Union (UN)&#39;s European Commission (EC) has opened yet another probe into Microsoft&#39;s business practices.
607719
Microsoft's top legal advisor in Europe has urged the European Commission not to insist that key security features be stripped from its new Windows Vista operating system, amid an ongoing dispute.
265351
European Union regulators said Monday they were investigating software giant Microsoft Inc. for abusing its monopoly by squeezing out office software and Internet browser rivals.
33234
The European Commission launches new investigations into whether Microsoft breaks competition laws.
342414
Microsoft argued in a Luxembourg court on Thursday that the European Competition Commission&#39;s antitrust decision against it would infringe on its intellectual property and cause serious and irreparable harm to the company.
437818
The European Commission warns that Microsoft could face further fines for failing to comply with its anti-trust rulings.
498848
The European Commission, fresh from a  major court victory over Microsoft , launched new  antitrust investigations into the software giant on Monday, on  suspicion it abused its market dominance.
362626
European competition regulators met on  Monday to discuss the amount of a fine it will impose on  software giant Microsoft  for failing to comply with a  European Commission antitrust decision.
344292
Microsoft Corp. said Friday that small companies and their customers would suffer most if it is forced to remove its digital media software from Windows, while the European Union accused it of being &quot;paternalistic
144238
The European Union levied a second massive fine on Microsoft and threatened greater penalties in the future unless the world&#039;s largest software company obeys a 2004 antitrust order to share technical details of its Windows operating system with rivals.
94186
LUXEMBOURG, Sept. 30 -- European regulators testified here Thursday that before settlement talks with Microsoft Corp. broke down last spring, the company had agreed to  antitrust sanctions that the software giant now claims would cause irreparable harm to its business and is fighting to stave off.