The European Union"s antitrust chief expressed confidence Monday that his landmark decision against Microsoft Corp. would withstand a court challenge due this week, even as his U.S. counterpart renewed criticism of the order. The U.S. software giant said it would file its promised appeal this week and also ask the European Court of First Instance to suspend the EU"s sanctions, including a record euro497 million (US$606 million) fine. "We believe we have a strong case to bring to court," the company said in a statement.
At a Brussels conference on trans-Atlantic antitrust policy, EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said he was "pretty comfortable," describing the Microsoft decision—reached after a five-year probe—as the most solid in EU history. "We look forward with confidence to the very likely court proceedings," he said. Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Antitrust R. Hewitt Pate declined to comment specifically on the appeal, but reiterated criticism in Washington after the EU"s March 24 decision. Pate warned the EU"s order to Microsoft to offer a version of its Windows minus its digital Media Player could "chill competition and innovation," ultimately harming consumers. He also questioned its "administerability," suggesting it might be hard to enforce.