EU grants Microsoft antitrust extension

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 16 Apr 2009 at 09:34

Microsoft has received a one-week extension from EU antitrust regulators to respond to charges that it hampered competition by bundling Internet Explorer with Windows.

"Microsoft confirms that the new deadline for the company to respond to the Commission's statement of objections is 28 April," says Microsoft.

Last month, the EC pushed back the original deadline to 21 April after the software company asked for more time.

According to the EU charges, the bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows has shielded Microsoft from head-to-head competition with other browser makers, harming product innovation and reducing customer choice.

Microsoft claims that if found guilty it could be forced to bundle other browsers with Windows, including arch rival Firefox. It could also be forced to pay a hefty fine.

Google, the Mozilla foundation and Opera have all added their voices to the case against Microsoft.