Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Christine Varney, Issues Statement on European Commission Microsoft Settlement

WASHINGTON – Christine Varney, Assistant Attorney General of the Department’s Antitrust Division, issued the following statement today after the European Commission and Microsoft Corporation announced their settlement:

"The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division commends the efforts of the European Commission and Microsoft Corporation, which have announced that they have reached a comprehensive settlement resolving their disputes under European competition law. As we understand it, the settlement is based on measures to enhance competition and is designed to preserve industry participants’ incentives and ability to compete going forward. A settlement that helps to clarify obligations under European law allows the industry to move forward. The Department is committed to continuing its strong and cooperative relationship with the European Commission to promote competition policy that protects consumer welfare."