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Updating yesterday’s item about Microsoft’s latest antitrust compliance problems, David Lawsky at Reuters reports:
For the first time in 12 years, Microsoft is in trouble on both sides of the Atlantic for the same reason at the same time — failing to share information needed to remedy its antitrust violations.
The European Commission has reacted to Microsoft’s foot-dragging with a threatened fine of up to 2 million euros ($2.46 million) daily. Now that the Justice Department this week for the first time expressed similar frustration, it will be up to a judge to decide if new action is necessary.
Microsoft’s general counsel, Brad Smith, plans to hold a news conference in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the case.
The United States and the European Commission take very different approaches to the software giant, but their recent statements have begun to resemble one another. One lawyer said that is because of the company’s behaviour pattern.
“There’s a striking similarity between Microsoft’s efforts to evade compliance with the European decision and its failure to properly comply with the U.S. settlement,” said Thomas Vinje, a Brussels lawyer who represents Microsoft critics.
A press alert for the Smith news conference is here. Todd Bishop has more at the Seattle PI including links to the US court filings by both parties.
January 25th, 2006 at 9:43 AM
[...] The formal press release from Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith’s Brussels press conference isn’t available yet, but here’s the gist from the wire services: [...]