Tuesday, 18 September 2007

EU Court Asks Microsoft To Share Software Info

A European Union court— European Court of First Instance—has asked Microsoft to share software information with rivals and fined the software giant USD 690 million.

Microsoft, though stunned by the development, said the decision would affect many technology companies globally. Microsoft, often called as the giant from Seattle, is the world’s biggest maker of software that run on 90 per cent of world’s computers.

Neelie Kroes, the European competition commissioner working in the said the decision "set an important precedent in terms of the obligations of dominant companies to allow competition, in particular in high-tech industries." She was instrumental in running the case against Microsoft.

Microsoft’s general counsel Brad Smith said the ruling was "disappointing" but added that the software giant was "committed to complying with every aspect" of the decision.