EU-Microsoft talks fail, fine to follow
Settlement talks with Microsoft failed today and the EU’s anti-trust chief said he would propose that a precedent-setting ruling against the US software giant be adopted next week.
“We made substantial progress toward resolving the problems that had arisen in the past but we were unable to agree on commitments for future conduct,” said Competition Commissioner Mario Monti. “In the end I had to decide what was best for competition and consumers in Europe.”
He said he would also propose a fine when the decision is adopted on Wednesday.
Monti had been insisting that any settlement with Microsoft go beyond the draft ruling in changing business tactics as the price for avoiding a precedent-setting finding of monopolistic abuses.
Specifically, he was seeking commitments that could make a settlement more global and help resolve other anti-trust cases currently pending against Microsoft that address similar issues.
Monti said in Brussels he had decided ”competition and consumers will be better served with a decision that creates a strong precedent.
“It is essential to have a precedent that will set clear principles … for the future conduct of a company with such a strong dominant position in the market,” he said.
Monti, however, praised the “constructive and co-operative spirit” and “high degree of professionalism” of the Microsoft negotiating team, which over the past two days included Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer .
There was no immediate reaction from a Microsoft spokesman in Brussels.
