Analysts: Sun deal could sway Microsoft's EU outcome
eWeek | at | by Mike
Despite claims from the office of the European Commission's Competition Directorate, the deal between Sun and Microsoft, which settled the two companies' long-running legal action, may ultimately prove to have a significant impact on the outcome of the EC's antitrust case against the Redmond company.
But some European analysts cast doubt on the significance of the statement. "It's difficult to see how the EC can make any real comment about the impact of the deal at the moment, as it's far too early in the appeals process to say much, said Neal Macehiter, research director at Ovum. "Microsoft will be able to point to the deal and to Sun's comments about it in the appeals process."