:: Deepquest ::

One of Microsoft’s strongest critics asked a European Union court on Thursday to hear its arguments that the software giant will eliminate rivals if remedies against it are suspended for several years.
The European Commission found in March that Microsoft had abused its dominance of personal computer operating systems and told the company to give rival makers of audiovisual software and work group servers a better chance to compete.

Microsoft has said it wants those remedies suspended until its challenge of the Commission decision is finally decided, which is expected to take years.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association says this will be too late, and asked the Court of First Instance to let its voice be heard as an intervener on the side of the European Commission.

The European Commission gave Microsoft 90 days to separate Windows Media Player, which plays music and video over the Internet, from its Windows operating system.

It would be up to computer makers to decide whether to ship Windows with the Windows Media Player or with a rival product, such as RealNetworks’ Real Player.

“All the risk in suspension is to consumers and competitors, not Microsoft,” CCIA said in a statement. It said the suspension would give Microsoft time to tip the market in its favor while the case was being heard.

The trade group said that “if the Commission’s ruling were suspended and the ubiquity of (Media Player) established … it is virtually impossible to reverse.”

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