Power Hangs in Balance on European Microsoft Case.(European Union. European Commission)

Publication: eWeek

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Ziff Davis Media Inc.

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters)--The European Commission's authority over monopoly abuse hangs in the balance as the wait begins for a court decision on whether to back a ruling that would force Microsoft to change its business model.

After years of investigation, the Commission found in 2004 that the world's largest software maker abused the dominance of its Windows operating system--used by 95 percent of the world's personal computers--to elbow out rivals.

The Court of First Instance, Europe's second-highest court, conducted hearings last week to decide whether the Commission was right or its decision had errors. The court will also decide whether to uphold a record fine against the U.S. company of 497 million euros ($623.6 million).

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