Posted on Wednesday, July 18 2012 @ 20:45 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
CNN
reports Microsoft is in the EU's crosshairs again because the software giant stopped showing the "
browser choice screen" when Windows 7 received Service Pack 1 in February 2011. Microsoft claims the browser choice screen is gong due to "a technical error" and claims it wasn't aware of this issue. If the software giant is found to have breached its legally binding commitments, it can be fined up to 10 percent of its annual revenue. Last year Microosft pulled in sales of nearly $70 billion.
Microsoft initially complied with the agreement, but stopped showing the choice screen when a Windows 7 update called "Service Pack 1" rolled out in February 2011. The company's compliance reports to the European Commission stated that Microsoft was honoring its commitment, but the software giant recently admitted that it had not been displaying the choice screen.
IE was supposed to be displayed prominently, alongside Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera. If a user scrolled over the options, they would also be able to choose Avant Browser, Flock, Green Browser, K-Meleon, Maxthon, Sleipnir or Slim Browser.
"We take compliance with our decisions very seriously," said Joaquín Almunia, vice president of the commission in charge of competition policy, in a written statement. "We have immediately taken action. If following our investigation, the infringement is confirmed, Microsoft should expect sanctions."
