Reaction to court dismissal of most of Microsoft appeal

LONDON (Reuters) - A European Union court upheld most of a landmark 2004 European Commission antitrust decision against Microsoft on Monday in a crucial victory for the European competition regulator against the U.S. software giant.

The EU's Court of First Instance dismissed Microsoft's appeal on all substantive points, reversing the Commission only on the creation of a monitoring trustee to ensure implementation of one of the remedies.

The European Commission found in 2004 that Microsoft had used its dominance in personal computer operating systems to damage smaller rivals.

KEY POINTS

* European court upheld an EU commission antitrust decision vs. Microsoft on interoperability and media player bundling

* European court has ordered Microsoft allies to bear own costs in antitrust case

* European court has kept EU antitrust fine versus Microsoft at 497 million euros (345 million pounds)

COMMENTARY

PHILIP MARSDEN, COMPETITION LAW FORUM OF THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW