Microsoft lashes out at EU
WinInfo | at | by Mike
Stung by European Union regulator comments over the past week, Microsoft officials on Wednesday charged that the EU has not provided the company with the information it needs to effectively defend itself against antitrust charges. As a result, the company is now asking for a second extension so that it can mount its defense. Previously, Microsoft had been given an extension to February 15, 2006.
"All Microsoft is asking for is access to our file," a Microsoft spokesperson said Wednesday. "This is a basic question of fairness and transparency." While we might cynically view them, ahem, transparency of this request, let's examine Microsoft's complaint: Microsoft says that 71 of the 100 documents in the EU's case file against the software giant are categorized as internal or confidential and thus can't be turned over to the company. Too, Microsoft says it should be allowed to view the correspondence between the company's rivals and the EU.