Microsoft has pulled out of their antitrust hearing before the European Commission, claiming they weren’t being given rights to fair trial.
The company was due to present their case against allegations of unfair competition practices for including Internet Explorer by default into Windows.
In a blog post on the company blog titled “Why hold a hearing in the EU if key decision makers are unable to attend?”, Microsoft explained its actions by referencing an important worldwide intergovernmental competition law meeting, the International Competition Network (ICN).
The ICN conference in Zurich, Switzerland clashes dates with Microsoft’s European Commission hearing and
“As a result, it appears that many of the most influential Commission and national competition officials with the greatest interest in our case will be in Zurich and so unable to attend our hearing in Brussels.”
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After numerous attempts to change dates, the EU stood firm and refused to reschedule, Microsoft has therefore informed the Commission that they will not be attending.
As a result, the EU will now reportedly make a summary judgement on the case.
You can’t help but feel a little sorry for the software giant.
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