The European Commission (EC), which fined Microsoft a record 497 million euros (US$625.50 million) this year for abusing its dominant position, on Monday vowed to continue pursuing the US software group through the courts for anti-competitive behavior.
The comments came as Microsoft shareholders approved plans to hand back US$32 billion to investors through a one-off special dividend of US$3 a share. The dividend was approved a day after Microsoft for the first time put a figure on its outstanding legal liabilities from the monopoly abuse cases of the 1990s, capping them at US$950 million.
EC officials were scathing about Microsoft's alleged efforts to "buy the silence" of rivals. On Monday it reached a US$536 million settlement with software maker Novell, and a ceasefire with the US Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA). As part of the settlements, both withdrew from the Brussels case.
Sources said it was "insulting the intelligence" of the European court of justice to suggest, via Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, that there was less need to pursue litigation when the group's rivals apart from RealNetworks had settled. "Competition rules don't exist to defend the interests of this or that competitor but to ensure there is genuine competition in the market-place which benefits consumers," they said. "With an estimated cash pile of US$64 billion Microsoft will see the cost of these settlements as derisory."
The European court of first instance is due this month to rule on Microsoft's request for a freeze on the EC's "remedies," which include ordering it to offer a version of its Windows operating system without MediaPlayer, following a fractious two-day hearing in September.
Microsoft announced plans to hand back a large amount of cash to investors in July. It was reluctant to commit its growing cash balance until the long-running suits were resolved.
It laid the US government case against it to rest in the agreement with the CCIA and has been steadily settling the remaining cases. The trade body was the only remaining interested party trying to force a supreme court review of Microsoft's settlement with the justice department.
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
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