Thursday, December 17, 2009

Microsoft Settles EU Antitrust Case

On December 16, the European Union announced a settlement in its long-running antitrust case against Microsoft. The settlement responded to a complaint that Microsoft's practice of bundling its Internet Explorer web browser with the Windows operating system constituted unfair competition.

In contrast to the 2007 settlement of an EU complaint regarding media players, which cost Microsoft more than $2 billion dollars, this time no money will change hands. Microsoft agrees to provide European users with a pop-up "ballot" that will allow users to "vote" on their choice of web browser. (Microsoft points out that users already had such a choice.)

To download a free set of PowerPoint slides describing the settlement and reviewing the history of Microsoft's antitrust troubles in the US and the EU, follow this link.

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