Microsoft back under the EU antitrust spotlight after browser ballot screen goes missing

Microsoft's faced antitrust issues in the past with the EU over its Internet Explorer browser. The result of that was that Microsoft would have to offer a browser ballot screen starting in February of 2010, that would allow windows users to easily install another browser.

Microsoft complied with this decision, but has now found itself in hot water again with the EU after a technical glitch caused the screen to not appear for some users since February of 2011. After Microsoft released Service Pack 1 for Windows 7, the ballot screen stopped appearing for some users. "Due to a technical error, we missed delivering the BCS (browser choice screen) software to PCs that came with the service pack 1 update to Windows 7," Microsoft said in a statement. Microsoft had agreed to make the ballot screen available until 2014, but as this glitch prevents that from happening for some users, the EU is back after the software giant.

If Microsoft is found to not be in-compliance, the EU could impose a fine that could amount to as much as $7 billion dollars.