Brussels, 23/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Microsoft's competitors have filed a new antitrust complaint with the European Commission over anti-competitive business practices concerning several of the American firm's products. The industry group European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS) has informed the Commission of a series of commercial practices by Microsoft which threaten to deprive companies and individuals of real choice in software. According to ECIS, which comprises groups like IBM, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, NokiaRealNetworks and Red Hat, Microsoft is abusing its dominant position in Windows products and applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The problem lies in bundling software up and withholding interface information. In a press release, Microsoft said that when it introduced new products that were of advantage to consumers, especially with the cutting edge technology in Office 12 and Windows Vista, it expected competitors to complain. It says that ECIS is a front for IBM and a few other competitors who seek constantly to use regulatory authorities for their commercial advantage. Microsoft promises to respond quickly and comprehensively to all the Commission's requests for information on this new complaint.
The Commission is currently examining Microsoft's response to its statement of objections reproaching the company for not meeting the requirements on interoperability (see EUROPE 9133). The Commission could undertake investigations on the practices that are the subject of this new complaint and which are very similar to those concerned by the March 2004 decision, later referred to the Court of Justice on appeal.