Brussels to rule on Microsoft deal

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 8.12.09
Publication Date 08/12/2009
Content Type

Microsoft reached agreement in December 2009 with European Union anti-trust regulators to allow European users a choice of web browsers.

The European Commission adopted a decision on 16 December 2009 that renders legally binding commitments offered by Microsoft to boost competition on the web browser market. The commitments address Commission concerns that Microsoft may have tied its web browser Internet Explorer to the Windows PC operating system in breach of EU rules on abuse of a dominant market position (Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union -TFEU).

Microsoft committed to offer European users of Windows choice among different web browsers and to allow computer manufacturers and users the possibility to turn Internet Explorer off. Microsoft were to publish on 16 December 2009 an undertaking whereby it commits to make far-reaching interoperability disclosures.

Related Links
BBC News, 16.12.09: Microsoft ends 10-year fight with Europe on browsers http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8415902.stm
European Commission: Press Release: IP/09/1941: Antitrust: Commission accepts Microsoft commitments to give users browser choice http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1941&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
European Commission: DG Competition: Delivering for consumers: Web browser choice for European consumers http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consumers/web_browsers_choice_en.html
European Commission: DG Competition: Antitrust: Cases: Microsoft case http://ec.europa.eu/competition/antitrust/cases/microsoft/index.html
Deutsche Welle, 16.12.09: Microsoft settles debate with EU over browsers http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5019599,00.html
European Commission: SPEECH/09/582: Your Internet, Your Choice: Microsoft web browsers decision http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/09/582&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
EurActiv, 16.12.09: Microsoft EU dispute to last into 2010 http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/microsoft-eu-dispute-2010-news-223170
EurActiv, 8.12.09: EU set to close 'browser war' after Microsoft offer http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/eu-set-close-browser-war-microso-news-223151
ESO: Background information: Microsoft nearer to EU deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/microsoft-nearer-to-eu-deal/

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Record URL https://www.europeansources.info/record/?p=436200