[IP] EU judge upholds penalties against Microsoft

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Adam Peake <ajp@glocom.ac.jp>
Date: December 22, 2004 6:33:46 AM EST
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: EU judge upholds penalties against Microsoft

EU judge upholds penalties against Microsoft
Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:44 AM ET

By Douglas Bakshian and David Lawsky

LUXEMBOURG/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Microsoft has lost a European Union  
court appeal against sanctions imposed by EU regulators that would  
force it to change business practices and sell a stripped-down version  
of Windows.

The Court of First Instance on Wednesday upheld the penalties imposed  
by the executive European Commission when it levied a record fine in  
March, finding the U.S. software giant had abused the virtual monopoly  
of its computer operating system Windows.

"Microsoft has not demonstrated specifically that it might suffer  
serious and irreparable damage," Court of First Instance President Bo  
Vesterdorf said.

His order left in tatters Microsoft's push to reach a negotiated  
settlement as quickly as possible, which would have required the  
Commission to rescind a major decision for the first time in its  
history.

Rest at  
<http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml? 
type=topNews&storyID=642539>


Microsoft can appeal to the European Court of Justice.

Adam

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