Computer-maker Tangent sued Microsoft in the US District Court
for the Northern District of California last week, seeking damages
for alleged "exclusionary and restrictive practices" that caused
Tangent to pay too much for Microsoft's operating system
software.
The suit also alleges that Microsoft has not fully complied with
the requirements of its 2002 federal antitrust settlement with the
US administration.
Microsoft has made no comment on the action so far.
Meanwhile, the European Committee for Interoperable Systems
(ECIS) filed a complaint against Microsoft with the European
Commission today.
According to reports, the complaint asks the Commission to stop
Microsoft’s allegedly anti-competitive behaviour in relation to
some software products, including its Microsoft Office software and
certain future packages – thought to be Windows Vista.
The group, which includes IBM, Nokia and Sun Microsystems among
its members, claims that Microsoft’s actions are harming its
members.
In response, Microsoft told Reuters: "We have come to expect
that as we introduce new products that benefit consumers,
particularly with the kind of breakthrough technologies in Office
12 and Windows Vista, a few competitors will complain".
While Microsoft has settled many of the antitrust actions filed
against it since regulators began investigating the firm in the
1990’s, it is still fighting its corner in two of the most serious
cases.
The firm has been criticised for delays by District Judge
Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who is supervising Microsoft’s compliance
with the 2002 US settlement. Separately, EU officials are deciding
whether Microsoft has done enough to satisfy the terms of a major
2004 EU antitrust finding.
If it has not, Microsoft will face a reported daily fine of €2
million, backdated until 15th December, 2005 and running until
Microsoft complies with the ruling.
