Microsoft Corp lost its appeal against an EU decision penalizing it for defying an antitrust ruling, bringing nearer to an end a decade-long battle with the European Commission over the U.S. software group's business practices.
Antitrust experts said the verdict by the General Court, Europe's second-highest, may strengthen the Commission's hand in ongoing cases against Google, Samsung Electronics and Motorola Mobility related to their patents.
Judges at the General Court reduced Microsoft's fine by 4.3 percent to 860 million euros ($1.1 billion) from the 899 million imposed in 2008. The 2008 fine - about $1.3 billion at the time - amounted to just over 2 percent of Microsoft's revenue for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.
The European Commission imposed the penalty four years ago - a record at the time - after Microsoft defied an antitrust ruling issued four years previously to provide information to make business easier for its rivals.
The EU regulator said at the time Microsoft delayed implementing its order for 488 days.
"The General Court essentially upholds the Commission's decision imposing a periodic penalty payment on Microsoft for failing to allow its competitors access to interoperability information on... Source/Origin >> Read More
