The US Government sought to influence the European Commission over Microsoft's antitrust case, according to competition commissioner Neelie Kroes.
Kroes said the US embassy in Brussels had asked her to be "nicer" to Microsoft ahead of her decision to fine the software giant €280m in July.
The commissioner criticised the approach. "This is of course an intervention which is not possible," Kroes told Dutch newspaper Financieele Dagblad this week.
When asked if she was annoyed by the Embassy's approach, she said: "In my work, I cannot have a preference. I have, however, a personal opinion, but that is for Saturday night."
Kroes' spokesperson added in an email to ZDNet UK on Tuesday: "We can confirm that she was lobbied and that she did not appreciate it."
Microsoft declined to comment on Kroes's claims, but an insider insisted that the company had not tried to influence discussions between the US Government and the EC.
The US Embassy had not responded to requests for comment at the time of writing.
Microsoft was hit with the fine for failing to comply with the Commission's landmark antitrust ruling of 2004.
The Commission had ordered the software giant to open up its code to help rivals' server software to be fully compatible with Windows.
Microsoft has previously denied failing to comply with the terms of the antitrust ruling. Two months ago, it submitted a lengthy document which it said proved it had opened up its server interoperability protocols, as demanded by the EC.
Talkback
Finally, US tax dollars going to good effect. I'm sorry, but more information - no matter if it's from another government - is good information. I think the EC should be more open to this type of input.
I'm sure the EU are grateful for the US input.
And I'm sure the US will be grateful when the EU 'advise' them on how to punish a large, European company that has broken numerous US laws........
One more time shocked by the Microsoft's attitude ... But who's not ? At least, i found less dirty elsewhere and start being liberated from this octopussy.
US tax dollars should rather be spent on antitrust enforcement, and generating relief for the excesses of Microsoft on the American market. The exchange of Bill Gate's support for W's first election for dropping the Microsoft Antitrust suit was the quid pro quo that got us into the mess we're in today. Micosoft is one of the biggest contractors to the military in Iraq, and has benefited enormously from the 'networked Battlefield' which is losing the war and sucking taxpayer dollars. Governmet of the Rich, By the Rich and For the Rich. Good work, EU. Make open-system samba the EU standard.
Aww...poor overpaid EUacrat upset over being lobbied. What a baby. That's what politics is all about. I guess socialism is making them soft over in the land of sheep.
Oh look, "Team America" tries to flex it's arrogant muscles again!
Not sure I understand some of the negative comments here about the EU. If Microsoft break EU law, the US government have no business trying to interfere with the legal process. The news doesn't surprise me however. Even the US courts found Microsoft guilty of breaking the law, but when it came to punishment they mysteriously backed down. Seems like if you're big enough in the US, you can actually be found guilty of breaking the law and still get away with it.
"Aww...poor overpaid EUacrat upset over being lobbied. What a baby. That's what politics is all about. I guess socialism is making them soft over in the land of sheep".
Well at least we don't have a hobbit for a president!
Interesting round of comments here. The real question seems to be not *whether*, but *why* the US government would get involved. Microsoft is an independently owned and operated corporation, capable of making its own decisions, and paying its own fines.
This intervention smacks of an ugly deal. Is it appropriate for the government of an ostensibly capitalist nation to step in on behalf of a corporation which is clearly not struggling?
Give me a break. Some of you computer geeks have been sniffing the silicon too much. Governments lobby on behalf of their nation's business interests all the time. The US is at war now because of it and yet the EU criticises us for it. Iraq broke international laws for years and the EU let them get by with it and stabbed the American government in the back. Now the lunatic in Iran wants nukes and the EU is quite content to let them have them. Why? To protect their respective national business interests in Iran. Talk about hypocrisy!!!!!!!!!Get real.
Companies around the globe will try to pocket politicians to look out for their interests. The trick is how to get rid of the politicians that have been pocketed. And how to identify them.
Perhaps it would also help to name and shame companies that try to pocket politicians.
"Well at least we don't have a hobbit for a president!"
Nice comeback Pete. Why don't you use a reasoned argument vs. a "I know you are but what am I"
Let's face it, Microsoft is an American company. It doesn't have to be struggling for the U.S. Government to lobby on its behalf. That's the job of the Commerce Department; to look after American interests.
The negative comments are towards the unelected members of the EU bureaucracy being upset by the lobbying. That's the nature of politics, and which is why they are whiner babies. Plus, there is nothing illegal about lobbying, especially when it's coming from a government.