Europe starts new Microsoft probe

The European Commission has decided to open an in-depth investigation into the proposed joint acquisition by Microsoft and Time Warner of a US company called ContentGuard. After a preliminary review, it appears to the Commission that the transaction might possibly create or strengthen a dominant position by Microsoft in the market for Digital Right Management (DRM) solutions. In the course of the investigation, the Commission will also investigate further competition concerns related to the vertical integration of Microsoft in other markets.

European Commission: Press Release: IP/04/1044 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1044&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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