WORLD> Europe
Microsoft fined 9m euros in Germany for collusion
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-09 10:26

BERLIN -- German's main competition watchdog, the Federal Cartel Office, on Wednesday fined US company Microsoft 9 million euros (US$11.9 million) for colluding with retailers to set the price of "Office Home and Student 2007."

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The watchdog said suppliers are allowed to talk to retailers about prices in Germany but need to be careful not to break competition rules. In this case, Microsoft staff and a leading German stationer met at least twice to set prices, which has " crossed the boundary," said the watchdog. The two also worked together on an advertising campaign in autumn 2008, financed by Microsoft.

Microsoft has accepted the fine to avoid a protracted legal battle and said it was reviewing its internal processes in Germany to ensure they complied with German regulations in future.