Microsoft Germany Fined Nine Million Euros

Microsoft has been fined nine million Euros in Germany for price fixing on its Office Home and Student 2007 software suite.

Once again Microsoft has been forced to dip into its wallet to pay a fine in Europe. This time it’s in Germany, where the BundesKartellamt, or competition authority, has fined the company nine million Euros (almost $12 million) for price fixing on its Office Home and Student 2007 software suite.

In a statement, the BundesKartellamt said:

“The product in question was heavily advertised in the autumn of 2008 in stationary retail outlets. Amongst others, a nationwide active retailer advertised the product with financial support from Microsoft. Even before the launch of the advertising campaign in mid-October 2008, employees of Microsoft and the retailer in question had agreed on at least two occasions on the resale price of the software package “Office Home & Student 2007”.”

Under German law it’s illegal for sellers and retailers to collude on future actions. Microsoft has accepted the fine.