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| EU launches new Microsoft probes | EU launches new Microsoft probes |
| (4 days later) | |
| The European Commission is launching two new anti-competition investigations against US computer giant Microsoft. | The European Commission is launching two new anti-competition investigations against US computer giant Microsoft. |
| The first will look at whether Microsoft unfairly ties its Explorer internet browser to its Windows operating system. | The first will look at whether Microsoft unfairly ties its Explorer internet browser to its Windows operating system. |
| In a parallel probe, the Commission will look at the interoperability of Microsoft software with rival products. | In a parallel probe, the Commission will look at the interoperability of Microsoft software with rival products. |
| The firm said it would cooperate with the latest enquiry. In October, the EU ruled the firm broke antitrust rules. | The firm said it would cooperate with the latest enquiry. In October, the EU ruled the firm broke antitrust rules. |
| "This initiation of proceedings does not imply that the Commission has proof of an infringement," said the Commission in a statement. | "This initiation of proceedings does not imply that the Commission has proof of an infringement," said the Commission in a statement. |
| "It only signifies that the Commission will further investigate the case as a matter of priority." | "It only signifies that the Commission will further investigate the case as a matter of priority." |
| The latest investigation by the Commission comes after two complaints, one by Norwegian company Opera, the other by pan-European software-makers group European Committee for Interoperable Systems. | The latest investigation by the Commission comes after two complaints, one by Norwegian company Opera, the other by pan-European software-makers group European Committee for Interoperable Systems. |
| Long-running battle | Long-running battle |
| FROM THE DOT.LIFE BLOG What's the issue? The old one about Microsoft's dominance crowding out rivals in both new and old areas of software Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent Read Rory's thoughts in full | FROM THE DOT.LIFE BLOG What's the issue? The old one about Microsoft's dominance crowding out rivals in both new and old areas of software Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent Read Rory's thoughts in full |
| The move by the Commission's competition officials will stoke the flames of a long-running battle between Brussels and Microsoft that many thought had finally died down last year. | The move by the Commission's competition officials will stoke the flames of a long-running battle between Brussels and Microsoft that many thought had finally died down last year. |
| In October 2007, Microsoft agreed to comply with the Commission's 2004 ruling that it broke European Union competition laws. | In October 2007, Microsoft agreed to comply with the Commission's 2004 ruling that it broke European Union competition laws. |
| The US firm's move came after it lost an appeal against the verdict, which included a fine of almost 500m euros ($745m; £380m). | The US firm's move came after it lost an appeal against the verdict, which included a fine of almost 500m euros ($745m; £380m). |
| In that case, Microsoft was judged to have shut out rivals from its Windows operating system to gain a larger share of the market for web servers. | In that case, Microsoft was judged to have shut out rivals from its Windows operating system to gain a larger share of the market for web servers. |
| Microsoft pledged in October to give third party program developers access to information that will allow them to make systems interoperable with Windows. | Microsoft pledged in October to give third party program developers access to information that will allow them to make systems interoperable with Windows. |
| It also said it would substantially cut the fees it charges for such data. | It also said it would substantially cut the fees it charges for such data. |