EU says Microsoft's behaviour still 'not acceptable'

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S antitrust supremo, Neelie Kroes, says that Microsoft continues to gain market share in the EU through abusive behaviour, reports Reuters.

Three years ago, the European Commission ruled that the software company had abused its dominant market position, imposed a massive fine and ordered the firm to change its ways.

Says Kroes, "Microsoft is constantly gaining market share and that is what is worrying me in the work group server operating market. As a consequence of your abusive behaviour you are getting positive results for the company -- that's not acceptable in my opinion."

She claims that MS today has between 70 and 75 percent of the European workgroup server market, up from 60 percent when the EU first took action against the company. Although MS agreed to share its intellectual property with the competition to eliminate what the EU perceives to be an unfair advantage, the Commission says Microsoft is charging too much for the information.

The combatants are awaiting a court ruling due later this year on Microsoft's appeal against the original decision. µ

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Reuters story