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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Microsoft is accused by EU again | Microsoft is accused by EU again |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The European Commission has accused Microsoft of harming competition by bundling its Explorer web browser with its Windows operating system. | The European Commission has accused Microsoft of harming competition by bundling its Explorer web browser with its Windows operating system. |
| The commission said it had reached the preliminary view that the US software giant had undermined consumer choice and infringed EU rules. | The commission said it had reached the preliminary view that the US software giant had undermined consumer choice and infringed EU rules. |
| Microsoft and the European Union have engaged in legal battles over competition issues for years. | Microsoft and the European Union have engaged in legal battles over competition issues for years. |
| Last year, the EU fined Microsoft 899m euros ($1.4bn; £680.9m). | Last year, the EU fined Microsoft 899m euros ($1.4bn; £680.9m). |
| Browser battle | Browser battle |
| In its statement on Friday the Commission said: "Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice." | In its statement on Friday the Commission said: "Microsoft's tying of Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system harms competition between web browsers, undermines product innovation and ultimately reduces consumer choice." |
| Microsoft said that it was studying the commission's preliminary finding, and did not rule out requesting a formal hearing. | |
| It has been given eight weeks to reply. | It has been given eight weeks to reply. |
| The US software firm controls the majority of the web-browsing market through its Explorer browser. | The US software firm controls the majority of the web-browsing market through its Explorer browser. |
| Analysts say the company has diversified enormously and is now no longer so reliant on its Windows operating system, with revenue coming from Xbox sales and server software. | Analysts say the company has diversified enormously and is now no longer so reliant on its Windows operating system, with revenue coming from Xbox sales and server software. |
| In February 2008, the EU fined Microsoft 899m euros for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour. | In February 2008, the EU fined Microsoft 899m euros for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour. |
| The penalty - which was then one of the largest imposed by the European Commission - came after Microsoft failed to comply with an earlier 2004 ruling that it had abused its market position. | The penalty - which was then one of the largest imposed by the European Commission - came after Microsoft failed to comply with an earlier 2004 ruling that it had abused its market position. |