It almost went unnoticed in the media reports, but the European Commission fined Microsoft a record $1.3 billion last month. This fine is in addition to the $357 million fine it handed down in 2006. The fines resulted from Microsoft’s delay in complying with sanctions in an antitrust case that started in 2004. The case arose out of a dispute over an order to make it easier for rival software applications to tie into Microsoft’s Windows operating system. As you may know, Windows runs 90% of the world’s PCs and many corporate servers. It will be interesting to see if the European Commission got the attention of the folks who run Microsoft.

Source: USA Today

Other Related Articles

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Like the Courts - Sometimes
• Countrywide Loss Focuses Attention On Abuses By Outside Brokers
• Philip Morris will finally have to pay in Oregon
• Case-specific web sites bring attention to important issues
• Former Enron executive pays SEC $31.5 million to settle case