EU On The Verge Of Charging Microsoft Corporation(NASDAQ:MSFT) With Antitrust Issues
Recent reports reveal that Microsoft Corporation(NASDAQ:MSFT) is only a few days away from receiving an official antitrust complaint after the software giant left out its required ‘browser choice’ screen to 28 million users.
Very soon, Microsoft will be feeling the full force of the European antitrust squall, as it braces itself for one stormy winter. The European Union is getting ready to issue an official antitrust complaint to Microsoft, after it failed to include a vital browser option update in the newest version of its operating system.
European authorities are almost geared up to issue the formal statement to Microsoft, as the Der Spiegel, a German publication. The software giant will be accused of several charges in the statement. Microsoft may be given a chance to resolve, to confess its fault and greatly reduced fine or appeal the verdict, but all these could drag the whole matter for another 2-3 years.
The EU had started the probe into Microsoft earlier this year after the company was claimed by over 29 million European users of Windows when they failed to avail a browser option as part of an earlier settlement in 2009 with Europe.
The browser choice is an obligatory Windows hotfix that was issued as a part of the company’s efforts to abide by the ruling. It allowed other browsers like Chrome, Opera and Firefox to be offered part from Internet Explorer of Microsoft.
Microsoft has admitted immediately after the allegations of the Commission went public that it had not lived up to its responsibilities to include browser options screen in the latest Windows 7 due to a technical fault.
Microsoft has already confessed its wrongdoing and that leaves out space for dampening of harsh stick of justice from the European authorities.
Microsoft is confronted by a fine up to 10% of its international annual turnover, if it is found flouting European antitrust laws.
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