E.U. vs. Microsoft saga continues
Microsoft has already been fined $950 million for failing to comply with an anti-trust ruling in Europe. The E.U. says Microsoft is still dragging its feet and has threatened to start tacking on an additional $4 million a day.
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MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: Microsoft is facing further heavy fines for failing to comply with an anti-trust ruling in Europe. The European Commission says the company is still abusing its dominance in the market for sever software. From London, Stephen Beard reports.
STEPHEN BEARD: This is the longest-running battle in the history of Europe’s competition authority.
Microsoft was found guilty of breaking E.U. competition law almost three years ago. The company was fined $600 million. And then a further $350 million for failing to comply with the ruling.
Now the commission is threatening more fines. It says that Microsoft has been ordered to share data with its competitors, but the company has asked an unreasonably high price for doing so.
Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd says Microsoft is being obstructive. It’s an unprecedented situation, he says.
JONATHAN TODD: We’ve never before been confronted by a company that has dragged its feet in this manner in terms of coming into line with an anti-trust decision of the commission.
Microsoft has accused the commission of being unreasonable, but the commission has given the company four weeks to reply. And says if it’s not satisfied, it could impose an additional fine of $4 million a day.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.