Brussels - The European Commission on Monday launched a new probe into allegations that Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) is unfairly tying its Internet Explorer browser to its Windows operating system, and making it difficult for competitors' software to work with Windows, Reuters reported. "This initiation of proceedings does not imply that the Commission has proof of an infringement. It only signifies that the Commission will further investigate the case as a matter of priority," the Commission said.

The complaints against Microsoft were lodged by Norway's Opera, makers of the Web browser software of the same name, and the European Committee for Interoperable Systems.

In addition to Internet Explorer, the complaints say that Microsoft makes it difficult for competing providers of word processing, spreadsheet and other Office-type programs to see their products function smoothly on Windows.

Microsoft, which said it will fully comply with the probes, has thus far paid more than $1.16 billion in fines to the EU, stemming from other antitrust actions taken against the company.

"We are committed to ensuring that Microsoft is in full compliance with European law and our obligations as established by the European Court of First Instance in its September 2007 ruling," the company said.

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