Brussels to probe IBM mainframe market role

The European Commission decided in July 2010 to initiate formal antitrust investigations against IBM Corporation in two separate cases of alleged infringements of EU antitrust rules related to the abuse of a dominant market position (Article 102 TFEU).

Both cases are related to IBM's conduct on the market for mainframe computers. The first case follows complaints by emulator software vendors T3 and Turbo Hercules, and focuses on IBM's alleged tying of mainframe hardware to its mainframe operating system. The second is an investigation begun on the Commission's own initiative of IBM's alleged discriminatory behaviour towards competing suppliers of mainframe maintenance services.

European Commission: Press Release: IP/10/1006: Antitrust: Commission initiates formal investigations against IBM in two cases of suspected abuse of dominant market position http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1006&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

BBC News, 26.7.10: IBM faces two competition probes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10764294

EurActiv, 27.7.10: EU opens anti-trust probe into IBM http://www.euractiv.com/en/infosociety/eu-opens-anti-trust-probe-ibm-news-496681

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