Brussels, Oct 11: The European Commission will conduct an oral hearing in the Microsoft antitrust case on November 12 that may last two or three days, people familiar with the situation said on Friday. The Commission alleges that Microsoft abused its dominance of personal computer operating systems.

The oral hearing will give Microsoft and its critics a chance to discuss charges the Commission made in three separate statements of objection, issued in August 2000, August 2001 and August 2003.
It will also give Microsoft an opportunity to comment on remedies proposed by the Commission. Microsoft will also be able to comment in a written reply due later this month.
The Commission asserts that Microsoft designed its low-end server software, which manages such things as files and printers, to work better with its own system than those of rivals, giving it a competitive advantage.
As a result, Microsoft has been able to increase its market share, the Commission says. Bureau Report