Microsoft Windows 2000

United Kingdom

The Commission is investigating Microsoft’s computer operating system Windows 2000. The Commission had received complaints from rivals and end users that Microsoft had designed its new product to allow it to extend its dominance in PC operating systems into other markets for servers, and ultimately e commerce.

According to allegations, Microsoft, by virtue of Windows 2000, has bundled its PC operating system with its own server software and other Microsoft software products in a way which permits only Microsoft's products to be fully interoperable. Microsoft's competitors, which do not have access to the interfaces would therefore be put at a significant competitive disadvantage which would ultimately allow Microsoft to extend its dominance in PC operating systems into the closely related markets for server operating system software and "middleware".

The Commission is also re-examining Microsoft’s pricing policy after the complaint by Micro Leader alleging that Microsoft applied different prices to equivalent transactions with trading partners. The Commission had previously rejected the complaint on the grounds that there was no sufficient evidence for its charges. Micro Leader appealed at the Court of First Instance (CFI). The CFI upheld the Commission's arguments as far as the charge of restrictive agreements contrary to Article 81 was concerned. However, it annulled the decision with reference to Article 82 on the ground that Micro Leader had provided sufficient indications that Microsoft did charge higher prices in France than in Quebec (IP/00/141, ).