Microsoft Windows Vista might not be sold in Europe

The European Union’s chief antitrust regulator has warned Microsoft Corp that it can’t sell the Windows Vista operating system in Europe if it has certain features. One concern is Microsoft’s potential to unfairly direct users to Microsoft’s internet search service. The EU is also concerned about certain security functions in the system which may prevent consumers from being able to choose various software packages. Symantec Corp., for example, is concerned that if Microsoft included antivirus software in Vista, their product lines would suffer.

A 2004 EU antitrust order against Microsoft fined the company $600 million, ordered it to sell a version of Windows XP without audio-visual software attached, and ordered the company to create a how-to manual for competitors trying to write software that works with Windows.

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