Microsoft appeals against $1.4 billion fine - It didn't work last time

By Dave Murray @ Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:19 PM

Section - Business/Legal

Convicted monopolist Microsoft has appealed against a record European Union court fine of $1.4 billion for its anti-trust activities and is still fighting.

It wants the ruling and fine to be annulled, claiming that the charge was 'unreasonable' and 'error-prone'.

The European Commission ruled that Redmond had used high prices to discourage competition, and that it had failed to comply with earlier sanctions levied by the EC. Microsoft's appeal said that the EC made a 'manifest error' in deciding its prices were unreasonable.

Prices were 'intended to facilitate negotiations between Microsoft and the prospective licensees,' Microsoft said.
It also claimed that the EC had ignored evidence from patent experts on the subject of whether Microsoft's trade secrets were innovative.

The EC has repeatedly hit Microsoft with huge fines in a bid to make it comply with its rulings. The first fine was $781 million, which was upheld on appeal. On another occasion, it was fined $440 million. X

Check out

EETimes