News and Trends
SHARE
Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp

Microsoft Digs in for Legal Fight

Despite a last-ditch settlement attempt by its CEO, Microsoft Corp. once again finds itself facing protracted litigation and possibly stiff sanctions—this time in Europe. Rivals hailed the development as a victory for software interoperability and competition. CEO Steve Ballmer dropped plans to speak at Microsoft’s Management Summit in Las Vegas last week to fly suddenly […]

Written By
thumbnail Caron Carlson
Caron Carlson
Mar 19, 2004
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Despite a last-ditch settlement attempt by its CEO, Microsoft Corp. once again finds itself facing protracted litigation and possibly stiff sanctions—this time in Europe. Rivals hailed the development as a victory for software interoperability and competition.

CEO Steve Ballmer dropped plans to speak at Microsoft’s Management Summit in Las Vegas last week to fly suddenly to Brussels, Belgium, to try to negotiate a settlement with the European Commission. But the effort failed, and this week Microsoft faces a final order from the EC, which could include requirements for the company to unbundle middleware from Windows, disclose greater interface information and abide by market conduct rules for future products.

The ruling will be the result of more than five years of investigating Microsoft’s use of its power in the operating system market to gain advantage in related software markets.

Ballmer, who had canceled a number of other domestic appointments last week in addition to his Management Summit keynote speech, was hopeful that despite the failed negotiations to date, Microsoft could settle the case “at a later stage,” sources close to the matter said.

However, European Union member states voted unanimously last week in favor of the commission’s proposed order issued last August, indicating that, unlike the United States, they won’t accept a Microsoft-crafted remedy.

Click here for the full story.

thumbnail Caron Carlson

Recommended for you...

thumbnail Caylent and Trek10 Join Forces in AWS Partner M&A Deal
Mergers & Acquisitions
Caylent and Trek10 Join Forces in AWS Partner M&A Deal
Allison Francis
Oct 27, 2025
thumbnail Dataminr and ThreatConnect Join Forces for $290M
AI
Dataminr and ThreatConnect Join Forces for $290M
Allison Francis
Oct 23, 2025
thumbnail ShareGate Announces New Program and Advanced Assessments
Security
ShareGate Announces New Program and Advanced Assessments
Jordan Smith
Oct 21, 2025
thumbnail Omega Systems Adds SASE to Security Service Portfolio
Security
Omega Systems Adds SASE to Security Service Portfolio
Jordan Smith
Oct 20, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

facebook
linkedin
youtube
rss
spotify
x

Company

About us Contact us Advertise with us

Categories

Channel Business Security AI Infrastructure Lists & Awards Resources

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

Terms of Service Privacy Policy California - Do Not Sell My Information