The European Commission has given Microsoft additional time to
respond to its concerns that the software giant abused its market
power.
In early August, the Commission sent a statement of objections
to Microsoft for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the
market for PC operating systems software by leveraging this power
into the market for server software.
This followed a complaint by rival software company Sun
Microsystems that Microsoft breached European Union antitrust rules
by engaging in discriminatory licensing and by refusing to supply
essential information on its Windows operating systems. Microsoft
was given two months to respond but the deadline has now been
extended until mid-November.
If the Commission ultimately rules that Microsoft did abuse its
dominant position, it has the power to fine Microsoft any sum up to
the equivalent of 10% of its worldwide revenues.
