The EU could hit Microsoft with another round of fines after the software giant failed to give Windows users a choice of browsers.
Sources told Bloomberg that the EU is readying a new complaint over the omission.
Microsoft had agreed with the EU in 2009 to offer PC buyers a choice of browsers, and - as recently as December - assured regulators that it was in compliance with the settlement.
Under the terms of the agreement, customers in the EU that bought PCs were given a selection of 12 popular browsers to install in addition to, or instead of, Internet Explorer.
The EU launched an investigation in July when it was discovered that the company had not offered around 28 million PCs running Windows 7 Service Pack 1 a choice of browsers.
Since February this year, that figure represents around 10 per cent of the user base that should have had the choice of browsers. Microsoft said it discovered the problem several months after it had happened.
The firm said the fault had been caused by a technical glitch and was not deliberate. It volunteered to extend the agreement it had with EU regulators until March 2016.
Sources told Bloomberg there was no set timing for the European Commission to send the statement of objections.
This statement lists alleged competition rules violations and is a precursor to a possible fine, which would be limited to 10 per cent of the firm's yearly revenues.
Any fines may take into account previous offences, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in July.
Microsoft has already been fined 1.68 billion euros (1.34 billion) in EU antitrust probes, including an 899 million euro (720 million) fine after failing to obey an order to share data with rival companies.
-
Bigger salaries, more burnout: Is the CISO role in crisis?In-depth CISOs are more stressed than ever before – but why is this and what can be done?
-
Cheap cyber crime kits can be bought on the dark web for less than $25News Research from NordVPN shows phishing kits are now widely available on the dark web and via messaging apps like Telegram, and are often selling for less than $25.
-
Open source advocates "cautiously optimistic" about Cyber Resilience Act after industry pushback prompts changesNews Amendments to the Cyber Resilience Act in December curtailed the potential impact on open source developers in the region, an industry body has said
-
Reprieve for open source industry as agreement reached on Cyber Resilience ActNews The Cyber Resilience Act has been maligned by open source advocates across Europe
-
What's the EU's problem with open source?Analysis The open source community has raised concerns about a raft of new regulatory changes in the EU in recent months
-
EU Cyber Resilience Act a ‘death knell’ for open source software, critics warnNews Critics of the act claim that requirements for open source software usage could severely impact the community
-
Swedish privacy concerns result in fines over Google AnalyticsNews Swedish privacy authority ordered companies to stop using the ubiquitous web traffic analysis tool, in line with recent EU rulings
-
Researcher says criticising Google cost him his jobNews Barry Lynn sets up new group to address platform monopolies after being pushed out at Google-funded New America
-
£130 million Google-UK tax deal could be squashed by EUNews SNP and Labor question terms of perceived low-rate deal
-
Google blames search “monopoly” on bugNews Glitch was responsible for Yelp and TripAdvisor getting buried in search results, claims search engine giant
