EU launches legal action against Microsoft

ByABC News
January 17, 2009, 1:09 AM

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission said Friday it has begun legal action against Microsoft Corp. saying the American software giant's practice of linking its Internet Explorer web browser to its Windows operating system violates European Union antitrust rules.

"Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice," the EU executive said in a statement.

It gave Microsoft eight weeks to respond to its finding, adding that it can defend its position in a hearing if it finds that useful.

Microsoft is no stranger to EU antitrust officials.

In 2004, the European Court of Justice found it had violated EU antitrust rules by trying to damage rivals for server and media player software. It fined the company more than $600 million and ordered it to offer a version of Windows in Europe without the Media Player software and to share communications code with rivals.

Microsoft appealed the ruling but the ruling was upheld Sept. 17, 2007.