BELGIUM: Antitrust regulators investigate Microsoft over browsers

Record ID: 451989

  • Title: BELGIUM: Antitrust regulators investigate Microsoft over browsers
  • Date: 17th July 2012
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JULY 17, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MICROSOFT PROMOTIONAL VIDEO FOR EXPLORER 9
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Business,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVAEKWEIW7YL6X6JGOM8HQHS26X0
  • Story Text: European Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia announced on Tuesday (July 17) that the commission would open an investigation into whether or not Microsoft is complying with a 2009 ruling ordering it to offer users a choice of web browsers.
    "I am announcing today the opening of an investigation into the possible non-compliance by Microsoft with the commitments on web browsers it gave to the commission in 2009," European Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia told journalists at a press conference.
    Almunia said that third party organizations noted that the offence was taking place since February 2011 and concerned the sales of Microsoft Exploitation system Windows 7 - Service Pack 1.
    "If following our investigation, this breach is confirmed and Microsoft seems to acknowledge the facts here, this could have severe consequences. Needless to say we take compliance with our decisions very seriously. If the infringements are confirmed, there will be sanctions," Almunia said.
    Almunia added that regulators aimed to complete the investigation as fast as possible, but he did provide any timetable for the proceedings.
    "We will implement the principles and the criteria established in our fining guidelines, and one of the elements that will need to be taken into consideration, if finally we will decide fines, is the question of the repetition of this infringement."
    Almunia said it was the first time that the Commission had dealt with a case in which an offender was suspected of failing to meet its commitments under antitrust rulings.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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