The European Commission on Friday late evening (Jan 16) confirmed that it is taking Microsoft to task again. The Commission filed fresh antitrust charges against Microsoft for abusing its dominant position by bundling Internet Explorer into its ubiquitous Windows operating system.

The Commission sent a Statement of Objections (SO) to Microsoft on January 15, 2009, outlining that "Microsoft's tying of its web browser Internet Explorer to its dominant client PC operating system Windows infringes the EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant position." Providing the evidence, the letter accuses Microsoft of tying its Internet Explorer to the Windows operating system thus harming competition between web browsers, undermining product innovation and ultimately reducing consumer choice.

Microsoft said in a statement that it's been told that related remedies put in place by US courts when Microsoft settled an antitrust case in this country in 2002 are not adequate for Europe, though a "final determination" hasn't been made on the matter. Microsoft said it is "studying the statement of objections" from the European Commission and is able to respond in writing within about two months as it has eight weeks to get back with its explanations.

Moreover, Microsoft can then have the right to be heard in an Oral Hearing should it wish to do so but the Commission statement warned, "If the preliminary views expressed in the SO are confirmed, the Commission may impose a fine on Microsoft, require Microsoft to cease the abuse and impose a remedy that would restore genuine consumer choice and enable competition on the merits."