Microsoft EU Antitrust Case




Case Details Case Introduction 1 Case Introduction 2 Case Excerpts

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Excerpts

Microsoft Complies But...

The judgment meant that Microsoft would have to start working on the remedies proposed by the EC, as soon as possible.Smith said that the company would comply with the order immediately and start offering Windows without the media player from February 2005 onwards, at the same price. Microsoft submitted a list of nine proposed names for Windows O/S without the media player. Microsoft was initially keen on naming the trimmed version 'Windows XP Reduced Media Edition', but this was rejected by EC on the grounds that the name was unattractive and would drive customers towards the full version.....

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The Hearing

The hearing of the Microsoft - EC case began on April 24, 2006. Microsoft's lawyer Jean-Francois Bellis (Bellis) began the argument saying that the EC committed a 'serious error' through its ruling two years ago. He said that removing the media player led to the loss of several functions in the trimmed O/S and deprived customers of the ability to play music provided by Yahoo! and Napster. He claimed that there were only a few takers for the trimmed version and that no computer manufacturer had shipped a computer pre-installed with this new version...

The Road Ahead

The Gazprom - Naftogaz dispute brought to light EU's dependence on Russian gas. With a quarter of EU's gas consumption needs met by imports from Russia, EU member countries realized the need to diversify their energy imports. While a part of their gas requirements were met by member countries' domestic production, for a major share of its consumption it had to depend on imports........

Exhibit

Exhibit I: About Microsoft
Exhibit II: Chronology of Events in the Microsoft - EU Antitrust Case
Exhibit III: EU Competition Policy