EU grants Microsoft extension in browser antitrust case

European antitrust regulators have granted Microsoft's request to extend the deadline for responding to allegations that the company violated antitrust laws, setting a new deadline of 21 April.

The European Commission in mid-January notified the software giant that it objected to Microsoft bundling its Internet Explorer browser in with its operating system.

Microsoft was initially given two months to respond in writing to the allegations but requested additional time.

A spokesman for the European Commission said it's not usual for companies to request and receive extensions to their response to the Commission's statement of objections.

Since the Commission put Microsoft on notice of its objections, the software giant's rival Google requested to be a "third party" to the proceedings, which will entitle it to review documents Microsoft presents in the case that are not otherwise available to the public. Like Google, Mozilla, the organisation behind Firefox, also requested third-party status in the case.

In addition to a written response to the Commission's statement of objections, Microsoft will also be allowed to request an oral hearing on the matter.

Original article: Microsoft gets extension in EU antitrust case from CNET News.com