Microsoft Outlines Arguments Against European Antitrust Ruling

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 22, 2004 - 3:46am.

Redmond, Washington -- Microsoft has issued a blunt seven-page response to the European Commission's finding against the company, arguing that last month's ruling creates new laws that will damage intellectual property rights and curtail innovation. The document outlines the legal arguments Microsoft will make as it begins a lengthy appeals process. "The Commission is seeking to make new laws that will have an adverse impact on intellectual property rights and the ability of dominant firms to innovate," Microsoft said in the document. "This adverse impact will not be confined to the software industry or to Europe." Last month, the European Commission fined Microsoft over $600 million and required the company to make a version of its Windows operating system that does not include Media Player software.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/default.asp