Commission dispels Microsoft rumours

The European Commission (EC) is playing down claims that it has found Microsoft in breach of competition law, saying any decision is likely to be months away.

Reports this week suggested that an internal panel had found Microsoft guilty of abusing its dominant position with the Windows operating system to boost market share by bundling software such as its media player.

If found guilty, the software giant could face a fine of up to 10 per cent of annual sales and an order to provide rivals with valuable technical information on its products.

Microsoft is hoping that any settlement will not go further than the US antitrust battle, which ended last year.

The Commission would not comment on the speculation, claiming that the pressure for information from the media was interfering with the "due process" of the investigation.

"The European Commission is making progress on the Microsoft case, but we do not have any announcements or statements to make yet," a spokeswoman told vnunet.com.

She explained that internal panel discussions are a routine part of major investigations.

"The course of an investigation must remain confidential to the Commission and the parties involved until such time as there is a likely conclusion to the case," said the spokeswoman.

Microsoft declined to comment.