Microsoft got from Brussels fined 561 million euros. Again for Internet Explorer.

Lengthy dispute between the European Commission and by Microsoft today continues to attack Brussels. Company fined €561 million for breach of antitrust regulation. The company is in Windows stopped offering to install other Web browsers.

The European Commission accuses US software companies that fail to comply with the Regulation of year 2009. According to that users of Windows 7 to give a choice i install other web browsers than Internet Explorer (this is just from Microsoft). The company had agreed with the Regulation, but from May 2011 to July 2012 he did not comply.

Microsoft

The amount of the fine, the Commission had wanted to show that taking the case very seriously breach the agreement and similar behavior is not paid. Microsoft claims that it was a "technical problem"

Although fine high, it is not the maximum possible amount. Could amount to 10 percent of revenue, or roughly seven billion euros (about 170 billion). This is not the first time that Microsoft was in the case of bidding Explorer punished. In total, the company was fine (including the final) of around 2.3 billion euros (almost 60 billion). Its economic situation and jeopardize not endanger her or new sanctions.

The company may appeal the decision, but it is uncertain whether it will do. According to some analysts might rather focus on the fight with the company Google, which just before the European Commission also accused of monopolistic practices. Google was in search results to favor its services.

How did it all begin?

In December 2007, lodged by Opera Software (behind the Opera browser) complaint to the European Commission that Microsoft is abusing its dominant position on the market. After a year , the European Commission said in a preliminary ruling: "Microsoft is detrimental to competition in the field of Internet browsers and undermines innovation in this area. " In December 2009, decided that Microsoft Windows users must access the following browsers.

March 8 Microsoft announced that users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 will be offered a window with the option to install other browsers (ie. ballot screen). But Windows 7 Service Pack 1, 2011 did not contain a choice.

Remedy enterprise lasted a year and a half, according to the commission which clearly indicates the intention. Microsoft delays were explained by technical problems that had made it impossible to select the browser into the operating system Windows 7 incorporate.