“The European Union will likely find Microsoft violated
competition law, a U.S. antitrust attorney said Thursday, citing
Europe’s more skeptical view of dominant companies than in the
United States. … The EU typically issues a decision and remedies,
such as fines and conduct restrictions, within several months of
the hearing. If measures are adverse to Microsoft, the company
could appeal within the European judicial system.”
“The real impetus for the inquiry is the Justice Department
lawsuit, said George Washington University law professor William
Kovacic. “This was poking along at the commission,” he said. “What
galvanized it was Judge Jackson’s findings of fact in November
1999.”
“Kovacic said he expects a finding of anti-competitive
violation. “Generally, European jurisprudence gives dominant firms
less freedom than what they enjoy in the U.S.,” he said. “Microsoft
is facing more skeptical decision-makers in Europe because there is
more doubting of dominant firms strategies.”