Microsoft suffers stunning EU antitrust defeat

The court said Microsoft, the world's largest software
maker, was unjustified in tying new applications to its Windows
operating system in a way that harmed consumer choice.


The verdict, which may be appealed only on points of law
and not of fact, could force Microsoft to change its business
practices.


It also gives EU Competition Commission Neelie Kroes a
green light to pursue other antitrust cases and complaints
involving Microsoft, Intel (INTC.O), Qualcomm (QCOM.O) and
Rambus (RMBS.O), and to issue draft new antitrust guidelines
that were put on ice pending the ruling.