| Software giant Microsoft has lost its appeal | | | | has battled against Microsoft to make the |
| against the European Commission at the Court | | | | software market a more competitive one. More |
| of first instance and due to its | | | | recently in 2004, Microsoft was ordered to |
| anti-competitive actions it has been ordered | | | | share information with its software rivals, |
| to pay a £345 million fine. | | | | so that their products could operate with |
| | | | other computer systems. As well as making |
| "The court of first instance essentially | | | | their Windows operation software available |
| upholds the commission's decision finding | | | | without Windows Media Player, which was seen |
| that Microsoft abused its dominant position"- | | | | as being anti-competitive since the user |
| Court's statement. | | | | would not have a direct option as to what |
| | | | entertainment software to use. |
| Over the past 9 years the European Commission | | | | |