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Technology

EU to charge Microsoft over ruling breach

Dunya News

Microsoft Corp could face hefty fine for failing to comply with a 2009 ruling of the EU.

U.S.-based Microsofts more than decade-long battle with the European Commission has already landed it with fines totaling more than a billion euros ($1.28 billion).The Commission, which opened an investigation into the issue in July, is now preparing formal charges against the company, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said.This is the second time Microsoft has failed to comply with an EU decision. If found guilty of breaching EU rules, it could be penalized up to $7.4 billion or 10 percent of its revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.U.S. chipmaker Intel holds the record for the biggest ever fine at 1.06 billion euros ($1.36 billion), which was imposed in 2009 and represented 4.15 percent of its 2008 turnover.Keen to avoid more regulatory problems, Microsoft, the worlds largest software company, has blamed the latest run-in with the EU watchdog on a technical glitch.Microsoft declined to comment on Thursday.Antitrust experts said regulators may use the case to deter other companies which do not follow through on their commitments.Market share of Microsofts Internet Explorer in Europe has roughly halved since 2008 to 29 percent so far this year as it has lost clients mostly to Googles Chrome.Chrome controls 29.3 percent of the European browsing market, while Mozillas Firefox has 30.3 percent of the market, according to web research firm Statcounter.Microsoft agreed nearly three years ago to allow European consumers better access to rival browsers in its Windows software, settling an antitrust case and avoiding a penalty.The company acknowledged its mistake in July, saying it was now distributing software with the browser option and also offered to extend the compliance period for an additional 15 months.Almunia also warned Google of a lengthy legal process ahead if it does not do more to soothe concerns that it may have undermined competitors.If remedies offered by Google can eliminate our concerns, we will succeed in reaching an agreement. Otherwise, the legal road is a long one, he said on the sidelines of a forum on competition in the Polish capital.Google is in talks with the Commission to resolve concerns about its business practices, following complaints from Microsoft and other rivals.