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RSS feedsThe €497m fine imposed on Microsoft by the European Commission is the culmination of an investigation which began more than four years ago.
February 2000
EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti makes a request for information regarding Windows 2000, looking into whether Microsoft "designed parts of Windows 2000 in such a way which will permit it to leverage its dominance in PC operating systems into other markets".
August 2000
EU begins legal proceedings against Microsoft over Windows 2000 after a complaint from Sun Microsystems.
August 2001
A fresh anti-trust case is launched, which accuses Microsoft of possibly violating competition laws by tying its Media Player product into its Windows operating system.
March 2002
Microsoft offers concessions aimed at settling the Windows 2000 investigation. The EC investigation focuses on Microsoft's security software, which critics say works optimally only when used between Microsoft servers and computers running Windows.
May 2002
Monti indicates that he intends to be a great deal tougher on Microsoft than the US Department of Justice has proved to be.
June 2002
Privacy groups welcome the EC's decision to investigate whether Microsoft's system of collecting personal information (through .Net Passport) from internet users breaks privacy laws.
January 2003
Microsoft agrees to make substantial changes to its Passport online identity system to make it comply with European privacy laws.
February 2003
Microsoft faces a new complaint that it is killing off the competition with its latest operating system, Windows XP.
August 2003
The EC says that Microsoft has been trying to crush rivals to its Windows Media Player, and in the low-end server market.
October 2003
RealNetworks lawyers demonstrate a version of Windows minus Microsoft's Media Player. Sun Microsystems and RealNetworks want Microsoft to disclose more of its code so they can produce software that works better with Windows.
17 March 2004
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer visits Brussels to meet Monti in last minute talks before the publication of a report that could see it hit with huge fines and penalties.
24 March 2004
EU orders Microsoft to pay a fine of €497m for abusing its dominant market position.
See also:
£331m fine and extra penalties for anti-competitive practices 24 Mar 2004All Operating Systems
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