The European Commission (EC) today has hit Microsoft with a nearly $1.4 billion fine for allegedly violating already existing antitrust sanctions.
The EC says Microsoft has held back on code necessary to let rival companies create software that is more compatible with Microsoft software.
“Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the Commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision,” said Neelie Kroes, Competition Commissioner for the EC.
It’s believed that Microsoft’s announcement last week regarding the release of API documentation previously only available to business partners was to try and avoid further European litigation and to earn favor from the Commission. This is the same commission that would have to bless the likely Microsoft acquisition of Yahoo, so getting on their good side isn’t a bad thing.
[Via Electronista]
Filed under: tech | Tagged: antitrust, commission, competition, ec, eu, european, fine, microsoft, tech, union
