Microsoft fined €497m for abusing market position

GLOBAL computer software giant, Microsoft, has been found guilty of abusing its dominant market position by freezing out competitors and must pay a record fine of €497 million as a result, the European Court in Luxembourg has found.

The decision should lead to a bigger, cheaper, more innovative choice of programmes on computers in future, said a delighted EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, for whom the decision was a huge victory.

Ms Kroes said consumers have lost out as a result of Microsoft’s practices before promising that the commission will do its utmost to ensure the company complies swiftly with the decision.