Dow Jones: Q&A: Microsoft Chief Lawyer Explains EU Talks Breakdown
MarketWatch: Q&No Microsoft settlement, Monti says
The recent breakdown in talks between the European Union and Microsoft regarding antitrust allegations was caused by "future" issues, according to the head of Microsoft's legal department. In particular, Dow Jones reports that the E.U. had tried to prevent Microsoft from introducing additional applications to its operating system that could constitute further anticompetitive behavior. Specifically mentioned was the long-rumored upcoming new search engine.
Microsoft decided that the ability to tie its search engine, and potentially other applications, to its operating system was more important than settling the long-simmering charges that could involve multi-billion-dollar fine.
