Computer-maker Tangent sued Microsoft in the US District Court for the Northern District of California last week, seeking damages for alleged "exclusionary and restrictive practices" that caused Tangent to pay too much for Microsoft's operating system software.
The suit also alleges that Microsoft has not fully complied with the requirements of its 2002 federal antitrust settlement with the US administration.
Microsoft has made no comment on the action so far.
Meanwhile, the European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS) filed a complaint against Microsoft with the European Commission today.
According to reports, the complaint asks the Commission to stop Microsoft’s allegedly anti-competitive behaviour in relation to some software products, including its Microsoft Office software and certain future packages – thought to be Windows Vista.
The group, which includes IBM, Nokia and Sun Microsystems among its members, claims that Microsoft’s actions are harming its members.
In response, Microsoft told Reuters: "We have come to expect that as we introduce new products that benefit consumers, particularly with the kind of breakthrough technologies in Office 12 and Windows Vista, a few competitors will complain".
While Microsoft has settled many of the antitrust actions filed against it since regulators began investigating the firm in the 1990’s, it is still fighting its corner in two of the most serious cases.
The firm has been criticised for delays by District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who is supervising Microsoft’s compliance with the 2002 US settlement. Separately, EU officials are deciding whether Microsoft has done enough to satisfy the terms of a major 2004 EU antitrust finding.
If it has not, Microsoft will face a reported daily fine of €2 million, backdated until 15th December, 2005 and running until Microsoft complies with the ruling.
