In early August, the Commission sent a statement of objections to Microsoft for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the market for PC operating systems software by leveraging this power into the market for server software.
This followed a complaint by rival software company Sun Microsystems that Microsoft breached European Union antitrust rules by engaging in discriminatory licensing and by refusing to supply essential information on its Windows operating systems. Microsoft was given two months to respond but the deadline has now been extended until mid-November.
If the Commission ultimately rules that Microsoft did abuse its dominant position, it has the power to fine Microsoft any sum up to the equivalent of 10% of its worldwide revenues.