Microsoft Won't Appeal Media Player Bundling Ruling by European Union

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 24, 2005 - 7:11am.

Brussels -- Microsoft announced on Monday that it has decided not to appeal an interim European Union ruling that it immediately implement antitrust sanctions imposed in March. In a statement, Microsoft said it had decided to "forego its right to appeal" the European Court of First Instance's ruling on Dec. 22, 2004, meaning that the company must now offer a version of its Windows operating systems without its Media Player music and video software. What's more, Microsoft now must share a number of specifications with its rivals. "Rather than seeking to suspend the Commission's remedies, Microsoft's focus now is on working constructively with the Commission on their full and prompt implementation," the company said. Microsoft also announced that the first versions of Windows without Media Player would hit European retailers within the next few weeks.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V677157E8