IBM escapes EU penalty

The assumption IBM would have constrained competitors in the field of large-capacity computers and squeezed them out of the market was not confirmed. EU competition commission announced that after examination of the case the proceedings were closed.

In July 2010 the EU competition commission instituted proceedings against the IT service provider IBM. Basic principle was the assumption that IBM would sell hardware linked with the operating system in the field of large-capacity computers. The competitors, who filed the suit, have now withdrawn the action and the competition commission stopped this part of analysis.

Microsoft has been sentenced high penalty and had to meet EU requirements in a similar case.

To the additional accusation, IBM would have squeezed competitors who offer customer engineering for mainframes out of the market IBM reacted with an offer. Spare parts and technically necessary information for competitors are to be prepared “on appropriate terms” for the next five years. Competitors have been asked for comment.

The willingness of IBM to respond to the doubts of the EU competition commission regarding fair competition is rated positively.

 

Click on the following link to read the whole article (in German): Handelsblatt.com

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