Jonathan Todd Commission Quotations

Several companies have expressed their concerns to the Commission concerning Microsoft's Vista operating system.

If the Commission is not satisfied with the Polish authorities' response, it would have the possibility of adopting a formal decision declaring that Poland was in breach of Article 21 of the merger regulations.

Our independent trustee, who is advising the Commission and who was suggested to us by Microsoft, Professor Neil Barrett, has told us the document is, to quote, 'totally useless'.

It is one year since the Court of First Instance confirmed Microsoft had to comply with the March 2004 decision. The Commission regrets Microsoft has failed to do so. We would prefer Microsoft to comply with the March 2004 decision, and not with their interpretation of that decision.

The role of the European Commission is to ensure proper application of EU competition rules to benefit consumers and companies in Europe, not for the benefit of one company.

Professor Barrett is a leading and well-respected computer expert whose name was suggested to the Commission by Microsoft .

The monitor is an adviser to the European Commission and does not make proposals.

We assume Microsoft has its own interest at heart and it wants to launch another product without having to worry about the Commission instituting various actions under antitrust law because of this product.

It's not comparable to a seller on the high street where the customer has a choice of supply. It's a company with a dominant market position. The commission has found Microsoft to be abusing that dominant market position by failing to make its technical information available.

It is therefore premature for Microsoft to claim that the Commission has prejudiced their rights of defense.

The European Commission is not intending at the moment to open a new case against Microsoft. The Commission is, however, determined to ensure the proper application of the March 2004 decision and in particular the remedies imposed by that decision.

The Commission did this because it has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated rules on cartels and restricted business practices.

The commission expects Microsoft to respect the principles established by the March 2004 decision when designing and implementing Vista.

The Commission has not been told about this offer by Microsoft. The only information we have is what they have given to the press.

The commission regulation on procedures in antitrust cases is very explicit. It says oral hearings should not be held in public.

The Commission remains committed to ensuring full compliance with its March 2004 decision.

The Commission's hearing officer maintained her position that correspondence between the Commission and the trustee and technical experts is internal.

The Commission welcomes the ruling and will have a more detailed statement at midday.

The commission will be explaining to the court why it considers the decision of March 2004 was well-founded.

The commission will remain determined to ensure full compliance with the March 2004 decision. The commission is obliged under treaty rules to ensure the proper application of the competition law to the benefit of consumers and companies, and not to the benefit of any individual company.

The Commission would like nothing better than to put outstanding issues with Microsoft behind us.

It is the commission that decides if Microsoft is in compliance with the ruling, not Microsoft.

I can confirm that the European Commission has received the complaints and will examine them carefully.

I can confirm the Commission is due to consider sending a letter to Poland warning Poland the Commission considers that they may be in breach of Article 21 of the merger regulations, which gives the Commission exclusive competence over mergers of a European dimension.