EU Microsoft Competition Case

The investigation and litigation that involved Microsoft before the EU authorities in the 2000–2012 period is arguably the first case that put the complex issues of the new economy to the test of EU competition laws. The case, which attracted a lot of attention, also beyond competition law circles, was a complex one, at various levels – technical, economic, and legal – and one that eventually interrogated the ultimate goals of competition policy in a given legal system. This entry takes the reader through the various issues and findings of the European Commission and the Court of First Instance of the European Union before offering few notes of analysis and a view on the future implications of this landmark case.