The European Commission is unlikely to review, under European Union competition law, the alliance between US computer software company Microsoft Corp and Apple Computer Inc, according to a commission spokesman.
"My personal impression is that it does not fall under merger rules," the spokesman, Thierry Daman, said. The European Union executive body is practically closed in August for its annual break.
Mr Daman said he was unaware whether the Commission had been informed in advance of Microsoft's investment of $150 million into the troubled maker of Macintosh computers and of a broad-based technology agreement between the two firms.
The Commission has in the past worked with the US Justice Department to prevent Microsoft from making deals which might restrict competition or abuse its dominant position - both prohibited in the European Union under articles 85 and 86 of the EU's founding treaty.
The EU's competition watchdog is also still investigating a complaint by Britain's Personal Computer Association about Microsoft selling practices for its MS Office software.
Under the terms of the agreement announced on Wednesday, the world's largest software company will develop more programmes for Macintosh computers, including a new version of its Office package of business software.
Microsoft will also include its Internet browser in the Macintosh operating system. Following the cash injection, Microsoft will have about seven percent of Apple in non-voting shares. Microsoft must hold on to the shares for three years, after which time they become convertible to common stock. Microsoft said it does not expect any regulatory problems with the investment in Apple.
