Microsoft ends European antitrust appeal

Redmond will comply fully with the court's decision

Matt Chapman

Microsoft has decided not to appeal the antitrust case in Europe again, after its first appeal was rejected by the European Court of First Instance (CFI) last month.

The company said it would now work with the European Commission to comply with the original ruling and make its software and products more competitive.

Advertisement

"At the time the Court of First Instance issued its judgment in September, Microsoft committed to taking any further steps necessary to achieve full compliance with the Commission's decision," an official Microsoft statement said.

"We have undertaken a constructive discussion with the Commission and have now agreed on those additional steps. We will not appeal the CFI's decision."

Redmond said it would now work closely with the Commission and the industry "to ensure a flourishing and competitive environment for information technology in Europe and around the world."

The case began in 1998 following a complaint to the European Union by Sun Microsystems.

As part of the deal, Microsoft will now license its intellectual property to competitors for a single €10,000 (£6,975) fee, rather than accruing royalties.

Redmond will still control its patents, but will have to license them out at the rate of 0.4 per cent product revenue, which is well below the usual 5.95 per cent fee.

Following the deal, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has ended the €3m daily fines to which the company was subject.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Further reading

Microsoft

Microsoft 'ecosystem' generates $425bn

Redmond-sponsored survey says vendor and its partners will create 14.7 million jobs this year

Microsoft

US states call for Microsoft antitrust extension

Plaintiffs allege Redmond still dragging its feet

Microsoft plays nice with the EU

General counsel Brad Smith vows to bend over backwards

EU dismisses Microsoft antitrust appeal

Case still far from over, warn analysts

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

Samsung talks up 3D TV

The next big thing, but it will take some time

Views from the Valley, 9 March 2010

Batteries, browsers and recognition for PARC researchers

Analysis and Reports

Continuous Availability for Microsoft SharePoint

This paper examines how to create continuous availability for Microsoft SharePoint by implementing high availability and disaster recovery solutions.

Database security: Preventing enterprise data leaks at the source

This report looks at the challenge of information protection and control (IPC) and how enterprises must adopt database security best practices

Poll

International Women’s Day poll

International Women’s Day poll

Have measures to encourage women into the IT profession been successful?

View poll results

Advertisement

White paper library

Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies; IThound.com brings you over 6,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Advertisement

Spotlight

street view screenshot

V3.co.uk weekly debrief, 12 March 2010

We look at Street View's expansion, and new rumours of...

Internet Liberty

Global campaign seeks to crush web censorship

Reporters without Borders announces World Day Against Cyber Censorship

Microsoft Word

Top 10 articles, 12 March 2010

Microsoft's i4i court defeat and rumoured Courier tablet

Views from the Valley: Behind the top 10 list

Iain and Shaun explain why names like Carol Bartz, Safra...

Primary Navigation