EU Reviews Competition Policy For Microsoft

The European Union, which is currently investigating Microsoft's Vista operating system 2007 has announced that their policy toward Microsoft will not differ substantially from that of the U.S. EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, said the commission is currently engaged in a debate over policies that foster private damage lawsuits over regulation. However, she stated that the final decision is likely to bring the European legal environment closer to that of the U.S.

Microsoft had run into trouble with EU authorities, during which the EU hit the software company with a 497 million euro ($613 million) fine. Microsoft was also fined another 280.5 million Euros ($357 million) in July for not complying with EU competition norms.

Kroes spoke about fostering a global competition culture and outlined three areas of policy development. She highlighted combatting cartels, punishing those who engage in unilateral antitrust behavior and encouraging private damage suits that would serve the same purpose as regulation. She added that she hoped the commission would conclude its policy debate on the issue early next year.

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