Categories: Tech & Society

European Commission Fines Microsoft $731 Million For Browser Antitrust Violations

The European Commission has fined Microsoft €561 million ($731 million) for failing to comply with its commitments to offer users a browser choice screen enabling them to easily choose their preferred web browser.

In 2009, the Commission had made these commitments legally binding on Microsoft until 2014 (see IP/09/1941). It has been observed that Microsoft failed to roll out the browser choice screen with its Windows 7 Service Pack 1 from May 2011 to July 2012. This means approximately 15 million users where not offered the browser choice screen during this period.

Microsoft has acknowledged that the choice screen was not displayed during that time.

“We have apologized for it,” Microsoft said in a statement.

“We provided the Commission with a complete and candid assessment of the situation, and we have taken steps to strengthen our software development and other processes to help avoid this mistake – or anything similar – in the future.”

Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said:

“In 2009, we closed our investigation about a suspected abuse of dominant position by Microsoft due to the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows by accepting commitments offered by the company. Legally binding commitments reached in antitrust decisions play a very important role in our enforcement policy because they allow for rapid solutions to competition problems. Of course, such decisions require strict compliance. A failure to comply is a very serious infringement that must be sanctioned accordingly.”

This is the first time that the European Commission has had to fine a company for non-compliance with a commitments decision. In the calculation of the fine the Commission took into account the gravity and duration of the infringement, the need to ensure a deterrent effect of the fine and, as a mitigating circumstance, the fact that Microsoft has cooperated with the Commission and provided information which helped the Commission to investigate the matter efficiently.

Prateek Panda

Prateek is the Founder of TheTechPanda. He's passionate about technology startups and entrepreneurship and enjoys speaking to new founders every day. Prateek has also been consistently regarded as one of the top marketing experts in the region.

Recent Posts

Outbound & inbound: Indian tie ups with Singapore, Indonesia, & Australia while Philippines meets Indian business group

The Tech Panda takes a look at how Indian companies are partnering with foreign businesses…

1 day ago

Investment temperament: NFO for 5 index funds, health funds for Early to Late-Stage Capital & to transform India’s healthcare landscape

The Tech Panda takes a look at the investment temperament in the Indian startup ecosystem.…

2 days ago

Tweets, tips & trading: X doubles down on payments power play

Big Tech is no longer content with just running user feeds, they want wallets too.…

2 days ago

PayPal World: Swipe right on global shopping

Indian shoppers could be shopping internationally using their UPI accounts sitting at home, thanks to…

5 days ago

Cheaper OTPs, smarter chats: WhatsApp takes aim at SMS dominance

The SMS as a tool to connect with customers might be coming to an end.…

5 days ago

Will our fintechs become our mobile service providers?

Looks like finance and connectivity will come together soon in our devices. Recently, UK fintech…

5 days ago