Microsoft May No Longer Be Appealing
The long-running feud between our favorite technology vendor and the European
Union antitrust watchdog may finally be winding down. The European Court of
First Instance
ruled
largely against Microsoft in the company's appeal of a previous ruling --
that Microsoft Windows server software and media player unfairly leveraged the
company's dominant market position. The 2004 ruling by the Competition Commission
was based on Microsoft actions that go as far back as 1998.
The court did rule in Microsoft's favor in one instance, rejecting the Competition
Commission's ruling to appoint a third party -- which was being paid by Microsoft
-- to monitor the company's compliance. Microsoft still has to pay fines and
restitution valued at over $600 million.
I originally thought that this would be the last appeal left for Microsoft,
but there's apparently one last possibility: an appeal to the Court of Justice
of the European Communities. According to the article linked above, Microsoft
has two months to appeal, though the appeal would be limited to points of law
only. That means the findings stand.
Although the law may finally be winding its way to a conclusion, has justice
been done? Tell me what justice is at [email protected].
Posted by Peter Varhol on September 18, 2007