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