Antitrust: European Commission takes note of Microsoft's announcement on interoperability principles
The European Commission takes note of today's announcement by Microsoft of its intention to commit to a number of principles in order to promote interoperability with some of its high market share software products. This announcement does not relate to the question of whether or not Microsoft has been complying with EU antitrust rules in this area in the past. The European Commission would welcome any move towards genuine interoperability. Nonetheless, the European Commission notes that today's announcement follows at least four similar statements by Microsoft in the past on the importance of interoperability. In January 2008, the European Commission initiated two formal antitrust investigations against Microsoft – one relating to interoperability, one relating to tying of separate software products. In the course of its ongoing interoperability investigation, the European Commission will therefore verify whether Microsoft is complying with EU antitrust rules, whether the principles announced today would end any infringement were they implemented in practice, and whether or not the principles announced today are in fact implemented in practice. Today's announcement by Microsoft does not address the tying allegations.
[European Commission Press Release]