The European Commission is to delay a decision in its four-year antitrust probe into Microsoft, founded by Mr Bill Gates, by at least four months to try to strengthen its case against the US software giant.
People close to the case say the inquiry, originally set to end this month, is unlikely to be concluded before October because of concerns over the Commission's arguments.
Last week, it emerged that the Brussels authorities had sent a questionnaire about Microsoft's activities to leading media companies - a sign the investigation is far from over. The Commission said it was not legally bound by any deadlines but declined to comment on the timing of a decision. Microsoft also declined to comment.
Officials working on the team are believed to have concluded that Microsoft acted anti-competitively by using its dominance in the software market to gain a stranglehold in other markets.
They are understood to be considering forcing Microsoft to remove Media Player, its video-playing software, from its Windows program, which would be one of the toughest measures yet imposed on the US company.
Brussels insiders say that Mr Mario Monti, European competition commissioner, has asked officials to do more work on the case to reduce the risk of a successful legal challenge by the US group.
The Brussels authorities are also aware that tough penalties against Microsoft could trigger a political dispute with the US government, which settled a similar case with the firm in 2001. Commission officials denied the delay was a sign of their case's weakness. - (Financial Times Service)
