The European Commission has been investigating Microsoft since
1998, when competitors accused the company of failing to disclose
hardware specifications necessary to integrate non-Microsoft
software into corporate networks.
In August this year the Commission announced a preliminary
verdict that "Microsoft's abuses are still ongoing", but gave the
company a final opportunity to comment before concluding the
antitrust probe. Microsoft will put forward its case at a hearing
before the Commission on 12th November.
The latest investigation relates to the "conditions offered by
Microsoft for the licensing of their IT related technology to
original equipment manufacturers (OEM's) in the IT and consumer
electronics sector", said the Commission.
Commentators translate this as being an investigation into
whether Microsoft has used its dominant position in the software
market to influence actions taken by hardware manufacturers –
particularly as regards patents.
Letters have been sent to a number of companies in the market
but, stressed the Commission, these "are a routine step and do not
signify that the Commission has reached any conclusions as to the
assessment of these licensing conditions under the competition
rules."
The Commission has not revealed the identities of the 20 or so
companies involved, but reports suggest that they include Toshiba,
Hitachi and IBM.
