Microsoft gets antitrust extension

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 12 Mar 2009 at 15:06

The European Commission has granted Microsoft extra time to respond to charges that its broke antitrust laws by bundling Internet Explorer with Windows.

According to the Statement of Objections delivered by the EC to Microsoft back in April, bundling Internet Explorer with Windows represents an "unfair distribution advantage" that serves to "shield" the browser from direct competition.

Microsoft was given the customary eight weeks to respond to this charge.

That deadline expired this week, but the company's lawyers subsequently requested an extension which has now been granted by the EC. It will have until 21 April to file a response.

The watchdog would not comment on why Microsoft received the extension beyond claiming it was not unusual for companies to be offered more time to present their case.

Microsoft must also respond to arch-rivals Google and Mozilla, which have been added as third parties to the case initially brought by Opera.

Should the charges stand Microsoft has revealed that it could be forced to bundle other browsers with Windows.

Microsoft had not responded to requests for comment at the time of writing.