EU Sets Hearing Date. But will Microsoft Show up?

The European Union has set a rough date of June the 3rd – 5th for an oral antitrust hearing to allow Microsoft to defend their practice of bundling Internet Explorer with their Windows package.

The EU have been investigating whether or not the practice is anti-competitive since last year, if they find in against Microsoft then, it is though the company could be in for yet another sizable fine from the European regulatory body.

However, Microsoft are as yet undecided about whether or not they will actually be attending the hearing. Despite requesting the opportunity to speak, something they described as a ‘procedural matter,’ the company apparently feels that their interests may be better served in the short term by simply keeping their mouths shut.

The charge levied by the EU is that Microsoft distorts the market, by piggybacking its Internet Explorer browser onto an operating platform that is near enough ubiquitous throughout the PC market. The charge was initially brought to the EU’s attention by smaller browser Opera, though as the process has picked up steam bigger companies like Mozilla corp and Google have come on board ad third party participants, allowing them to act in an advisory capacity to the EU.

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