EU to give Microsoft leeway

Posted on ZDNet News: Feb 24, 2004 5:53:00 AM

This would be a more favorable decision for Microsoft than having to follow to the letter obligations drawn up by the European Union.

The commission, the European Union's competition watchdog, is investigating whether Microsoft abused the dominant position of its Windows operating system in the market for personal computer software by tying its Media Player program--used to play music and videos--to Windows.

The commission wants to impose remedies on Microsoft to prevent the company from committing more alleged competition abuses.

But EU executive fears the Court of First Instance, which rules on EU cases, may suspend any remedy against Microsoft if it suspects there is a breach of intellectual property rights.

"In order not to touch on IP rights the commission would delegate the remedies to Microsoft," the source told Reuters. "The commission would probably give the obligation in the form of results to be achieved and leave it up to the party to find the appropriate means."

The commission will monitor how Microsoft implements any remedies on which the two sides agree.

Story Copyright  © 2004 Reuters Limited.  All rights reserved.

Story Copyright © 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.